About the song
The Everly Brothers’ “How Can I Meet Her?”. A delightful tune, isn’t it? Released in 1962, it captures a very specific moment in pop music history – a bridge between the doo-wop stylings of the 50s and the burgeoning British Invasion of the early 60s.
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The Everly Brothers, of course, were already established stars by then. Don and Phil Everly, with their impossibly smooth harmonies and infectious energy, had been churning out hits since the mid-50s. “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Cathy’s Clown” – these were all chart-toppers that showcased their vocal prowess and knack for relatable teenage themes.
“How Can I Meet Her?” falls squarely into that category. It’s a song brimming with youthful yearning, a young man’s lament about being hopelessly smitten with a girl he can’t seem to cross paths with.
The lyrics, penned by the songwriting duo of Gerry Goffin and Jack Keller, are simple yet evocative. The narrator describes this dream girl – “eyes of blue,” a “dazzling smile” – but she remains frustratingly out of reach.
“Everywhere I go, I look around in vain,” he sings, his voice layered with Don and Phil’s signature harmonies, a sound both innocent and pleading. The music, a bright and bouncy mid-tempo arrangement, perfectly complements this feeling of restless anticipation. The prominent use of acoustic guitars lends a folksy charm, while the steady backbeat keeps the energy up.
“How Can I Meet Her?” wasn’t one of The Everly Brothers’ biggest hits, only reaching number 75 on the US pop charts. But it’s a song cherished by fans for its encapsulation of a very specific teenage experience – that exhilarating, all-consuming crush that makes you see your dream girl everywhere, even if she’s not actually there.
It’s a testament to the songwriting and the Everly Brothers’ own vocal magic that this relatively minor chart entry continues to resonate with listeners today. So, let’s delve into this charming song, a slice of early 60s pop that captures the sweet ache of young love.