“Wishin’ and Hopin’” – Dusty Springfield (1964)
Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming each night of his charms
That won’t get you into his arms
So if you’re looking to find love you can share
All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, ’cause
You won’t get him
Thinking and a‑praying, wishing and a‑hoping
‘Cause wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming his kisses will start
That won’t get you into his heart
So if you’re thinking of how great true love is
All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You got to show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, ’cause
You won’t get him
Thinking and a‑praying, wishing and a‑hoping
‘Cause wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming his kisses will start
That won’t get you into his heart
So if you’re thinking of how great true love is
All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his
****
In “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” Dusty Springfield (one of the very greats) offers some advice on how to land a man. She starts by explaining that “wishing and hoping and thinking and praying” won’t get you anywhere. You need to be proactive. Sure. I think we can all agree that this isn’t bad advice. But then she goes into details… “Do the things he likes to do.” “Wear your hair just for him.” Most importantly, “hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him/yeah, just do it.” So, remember, ladies, if you want to get your hooks into a man, look the way he wants you to look, copy his interests like an automaton, and (for the love of god) put out. After you do, you will be his…
7 thoughts on “The 6 Sexistiest Songs of the ’60s — #4”
Interesting, considering Springfield was gay.
jsrtheta
I agree. Leslie Gore, who was also gay (and also sadly deceased) has a song on this list as well. I don’t think that their sexuality has much, if anything, to do with their place on this list, or what they were asked to sing. I think it’s more a product of the time (specifically, men writing for women to sing). This song, for instance, was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David — who happened to write the #1 song on this list as well…
Thanks for writing!
Sugardanny
I can’t imagine that she would be successful in achieving her goal by doing things oppositely.
FC
It’s debatable whether this is a very sexist song, except for the last line. Both sexes will do what is necessary to attract the person their attracted to. We do it subconsciously anyway, it’s just verbalized here. However, the line “You will be his” means man possesses woman. Why not “He will be yours”?
Biran
This could only be considered sexist if there were no similar songs by men. Perhaps that is the problem — I can’t think of any songs recommending that men should make themselves more attractive to the girl they are chasing. Would such a song have been impossible in the 60s? It’s hypothetical — I really don’t know.
Greg
Dusty Springfield was a lesbian, I wonder what she thought of the lyrics of primping yourself up to kowtow to a man! There will be a movie coming out about her, should be a treat for fans, I hope.
Lassie B
You want to keep a man? Drop your fantasies and hopes and step up to show your love by ACTION. Seems fairly simple and straightforward; you make an effort for the people you care for.
I guess men are just supposed to love you arbitrarily when you do nothing in turn and read your mind.
Truly, feminism is setting women up for success…
David Paulus