30- Year-Old Roy Orbison Shares “Oh, Pretty Woman” On American Bandstand

His Pretty Woman

Performing timeless hit, “Oh, Pretty Woman” on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand is a 30-year-old Roy Orbison, young, healthy and fresh as ever, charming the audience with his iconic vocals and stage presence. Decked out with his signature darkened 50’s glasses and long pompadour, Roy growls his way into the heart’s of the women in the audience.

Interesting Quote: “We wrote Oh Pretty Woman on a Friday, the next Friday we recorded it, and the next Friday it was out. It was the fastest thing I ever saw. Actually, the yeah, yeah, yeah in Oh Pretty Woman probably came from The Beatles.” – Bill Dees

Inspired by his own wife on her way out the door, Roy and songwriting partner, Bill Dees, crafted “Oh, Pretty Woman” as his last individual hit before he lost wife, Claudette, in a motorcycle accident and his two sons in a horrific fire. Years later, Orbison resurrected his career in the 80’s and joined supergroup The Traveling Wilbury’s with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne.

Roy, unfortunately, suffered from a heart attack in ’88, but his beautiful music like “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Only The Lonely,” “Cyrin'” and several others are able to live on through the unforgettable records he created during his time year. There will never be another like you Roy, rest in peace..

+ Oh, Pretty Woman Lyrics +

Pretty woman, walkin’ down the street
Pretty woman the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth
No one could look as good as you, mercy

Pretty woman won’t you pardon me
Pretty woman I couldn’t help but see
Pretty woman that you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me

Pretty woman stop awhile
Pretty woman talk awhile
Pretty woman give your smile to me
Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah
Pretty woman look my way
Pretty woman say you’ll stay with me
‘Cause I need you, I’ll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight

Pretty woman don’t walk on by
Pretty woman don’t make me cry
Pretty woman don’t walk away, hey, okay
If that’s the way it must be, okay
I guess I’ll go on home, it’s late
There’ll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see?
Is she walkin’ back to me?
Yeah, she’s walkin’ back to me
Oh, oh, pretty woman