‘I Saw Her Again’ is a song recorded by the U.S. vocal group the Mamas & the Papas in 1966. Co-written by band members John Phillips and Denny Doherty, it was released as a single in June 1966 and peaked at number one on the RPM Canadian Singles Chart, number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart the week of July 30, 1966. It appeared on their self-titled second album in September 1966.
Billboard described the single as a "lyric rhythm rocker" that was a "hot follow-up to their 'Monday, Monday' smash". Cash Box described the song as a "rhythmic, pulsating folk-rock handclapper about a lucky fella who has finally found Miss Right."
One of three songs co-written by the two male members of the group (the others being ‘Got a Feelin'’ and ‘For the Love of Ivy’), ‘I Saw Her Again’ was inspired by Doherty's brief affair with Michelle Phillips, then married to John Phillips, which, combined with an affair between Michelle Phillips and Gene Clark of The Byrds, resulted in the brief expulsion of Michelle from the group. While mixing the record, engineer Bones Howe punched in the coda vocals too early, inadvertently including Doherty's false start on the third chorus ("I saw her..."). Despite attempting to correct the error, the miscued vocal could still be heard on playback. Producer Lou Adler liked the effect and told Howe to leave it in the final mix. Lou Adler has said that this song was specifically done to try and capture the flavor of what the Beatles had been doing, and that it was intentionally written to be a single.
A light-hearted music video was made to promote the single, in which the four members arrive outside De Voss, a clothes shop on Sunset Plaza on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, by motorcycle (John) then car (in order, Michelle, Denny, Cass), with Michelle and Cass "examining" various garments and John spraying the air (and his glasses suddenly disappearing). Denny smokes a cigarette before they all lie on the floor and hurl clothes around. They then leave the store (first Denny and Cass, then John and Michelle), walking away from their vehicles. About ten seconds into the video, John and Michelle suddenly switch between their motorcycle and car before entering the store.
Labels – Dunhill (U.S.), RCA Victor (Europe)
Songwriters – John Phillips, Denny Doherty
Producer – Lou Adler
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]I saw her again last night
And you know that I shouldn't
Just string her along, it's just not right
If I couldn't I wouldn't
[Chorus]
But what can I do? I'm lonely, too
And it makes me feel so good to know
(And it makes me feel so good to know)
She'll never leave me
[Verse 2]
I'm in way over my head
Now she thinks that I love her
(Yeah, yeah, she loves you)
Because that's what I said
Though I never think of her
(No, no, never think of her)
[Chorus]
But what can I do? I'm lonely, too
And it makes me feel so good to know
(And it makes me feel so good to know)
She'll never leave me
[Bridge]
Every time I see that girl
You know I wanna lay down and die
But I really need that girl
Though I'm livin' a lie (Though I'm livin' a lie)
It makes me wanna cry
[Verse 3]
I saw her again last night
And you know that I shouldn't
Just string her along, it's just not right
If I couldn't I wouldn't
[Chorus]
But what can I do? I'm lonely, too
And it makes me feel so good to know
(And it makes me feel so good to know)
She'll never leave me (To know, know)
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
But what can I do? I'm lonely, too
Yeah, and it makes me feel so good to know
She'll never leave me
[Bridge]
Every time I see that girl
You know I wanna lay down and die
But I really need that girl
Though I'm livin' a lie (Though I'm livin' a lie)
It makes me wanna cry
[Verse 4]
I saw her, I saw her again last night
And you know that I shouldn't (No, no)
Just string her along, it's just not right
If I couldn't I wouldn't (You say you wouldn't)
[Outro]
I'm in way over my head
Now she thinks that I love her (Yeah, yeah, she loves you)
Because that's what I said...