In early 1972, Epic Records studio manager Robert Mandel was sent a test print of an album by an obscure band. He sent the record to major radio stations in Washington and Baltimore. Harv Moore, WPGC Program Director, aired the song Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) about a barmaid from a portside tavern.
The success was enormous. The single didn’t come out until two weeks later, but by then the track was already a major hit in DC. That’s how the world got to know Looking Glass.
Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass & The Story
Elliot Lurie, the author of the words and music of the composition, spoke about the history of the creation of Brandy:
I wrote Brandy the way I usually write. That is, I began to play some chords, and when they began to combine, I connected them with words …
It was a story song. We in Looking Glass, which I was in then, prayed and hoped that it would become a hit record that people would listen to in convertibles with the top down.
The Hollywood Reporter, 2017
Who is Brandy – Looking Glass about?
Fans have been pestering Lurie for years about who Brandy is dedicated to. The author convinced them that Brandy was just a fictional character, and there was no hidden meaning in the lyrics of the song. Nevertheless, numerous myths were born around the composition.
For example, many believe that Elliot was referring to spinster Mary Ellis, whose gravestone has stood in the parking lot of Loew’s movie theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey since 1828. There is also a legend that the real author of Brandy is songwriter Stephen Homner, from whom Lurie bought the lyrics.
In 2017, Elliot Lurie admitted who inspired him to write Brandy, revealing in an interview what the song is about:
I had a girlfriend in high school named Randy. I hummed her name over the chords, and then I wrote the verses and the whole story. I imagined a nineteenth century port with sailors and barmaids and the like. So I borrowed the name from a school friend. Then I changed it to Brandi, because obviously it makes more sense if you’re a bartender.
Release and achievements
The song was released as a single in May 1972. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian chart.
Let’s watch online clip Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass.
The Looking Glass group failed to repeat the success of Brandy. Luri left the band for a solo career, but also did not score big hits. In 1995, the members of Looking Glass reunited for a concert at Madison Square Garden, where they performed Brandy and Jimmie Loves Mary-Anne.
The song has been covered by various bands, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Let’s see the clip.
Interesting Facts
- During 1973, Brandi’s name rose from 353rd to 82nd in the list of the most popular names in the United States.
- The song is featured in many films, including Charlie’s Angels (2000). Brandy plays an important role in the soundtrack of the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Part 2 (2017).
Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) lyrics by Looking Glass
There’s a port on a western bay
And it serves a hundred ships a day
Lonely sailors pass the time away
And talk about their homes
And there’s a girl in this harbor town
And she works layin’ whiskey down
They say “Brandy, fetch another round”
She serves them whiskey and wine
chorus:
The sailors say “Brandy, you’re a fine girl”
“What a good wife you would be”
“Yeah your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea”
Brandy wears a braided chain
Made of finest silver from the North of Spain
A locket that bears the name
Of the man that Brandy loves
He came on a summer’s day
Bringin’ gifts from far away
But he made it clear he couldn’t stay
No harbor was his home
The sailor said, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl”
“What a good wife you would be”
“But my life, my love, and my lady is the sea”
Yeah, Brandy used to watch his eyes
When he told his sailor stories
She could feel the ocean foam rise
She saw its ragin’ glory
But he had always told the truth, lord, he was an honest man
And Brandy does her best to understand
At night when the bars close down
Brandy walks through a silent town
And loves a man who’s not around
She still can hear him say
She hears him say, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl”
“What a good wife you would be”
“But my life, my love, and my lady is the sea”
“Brandy, you’re a fine girl”
“What a good wife you would be”
“But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea”
Lyrics Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) Alternate
There is a port in the western bay,
It takes a hundred ships a day
Lone sailors while away the time
And talk about their homes
There’s a girl living in this port town
She works serving whiskey
They tell her, “Brandi, one more”
She brings them whiskey and wine
Chorus:
Sailors say, “Brandi, you’re a pretty girl”
“You would make a great wife”
“Your eyes will lure any sailor out of the sea”
Brandi wears a braided chain
From the finest silver from the north of Spain,
Name medallion
The guy she loves
He appeared on a summer day
And brought gifts from afar,
But he made it clear that he couldn’t stay
‘Cause no harbor was his home
The sailor said, “Brandi, you’re a pretty girl”
“You would make a great wife”
“But my life, love and lady of the heart is the sea”
Brandi didn’t take her eyes off him.
When he told sea tales
She felt the spray of ocean foam
She saw his raging glory
But he always told the truth, God he was an honest guy
And Brandi tried to figure it out
At night when the bars close
Brandi walks in a quiet city
She loves a man who is not around
He still hears his words
She hears him say, “Brandi, you’re a nice girl”
“You would make a great wife”
“But my life, love and lady of the heart is the sea”
“Brandi, you’re a sweet girl”
“You would make a great wife”
“But my life, love and lady of the heart is the sea”
Song quote
Perhaps, in retrospect, it was a subconscious metaphor.
Elliot Lurie
Download Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
You can’t download Brandy by Looking Glass in MP3 or other format for free here. You can listen to the track and watch the clip online. Look for notes, minuses, tabs and other materials on thematic music sites.
