Peak
16
Weeks
14
Score
1,753
Chart Year
1968
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This Pop tune was written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood. It was the first hit for songwriter Albert Hammond, who is the father of The Strokes' guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr. He recalled to The Independent February 4, 2009 that he "was working at the Chelsea Drug Store (see 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' for more on that), just doing dishes" when he wrote this song. Hammond added: "I'd carry around a little transistor radio and play it to the other guys when the song came on but they'd never believe it was me." Hammond's well-known songs include "The Air That I Breathe" for The Hollies, "Gimme Dat Ding" for The Pipkins, "When I Need You" for Leo Sayer and his self-performed track "It Never Rains In Southern California." British singer and one-time comedian Lee Graham performed this song. He was first nicknamed Leapy at school as "I was always a leaper." A one hit wonder in the US, in the UK Lee had one other chart entry with the Country tune "Good Morning," which peaked at #29. His singing career came to an abrupt end when, following a fracas in a bar with Alan Lake, the husband of the actress Diana Dors, he was sentenced to two years in prison. This peaked at #2 in the UK. It was The Beatles' "Hey Jude," which prevented Lee from leaping to the top of the chart.
There's a boy a little boy Shooting arrows in the blue And he's aiming them at someone But the question is at who. Is it me or is it you It's hard to tell until you're hit But you know it when they hit you 'Cause they hurt a little bit. Here they come pouring out of the blue Little arrows for me and for you You're falling in love again Falling in love again. Little arrows in your clothing Little arrows in your hair When you're in love you'll find Those little arrows everywhere Little arrows that will hit you once And hit you once again Little arrows that hit everybody Every now and then. Oh oh oh the pain. Some folks run and others hide But ain't nothing they can do And some folks put on armor But the arrows go straight through. So you see there's no escape So why not face it and admit That you love those little arrows When they hurt a little bit. Here they come pouring out of the blue.
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 12, 1968 | 97 | 29 |
| 2 | Oct 19, 1968 | 70 | 56 |
| 3 | Oct 26, 1968 | 65 | 61 |
| 4 | Nov 2, 1968 | 57 | 69 |
| 5 | Nov 9, 1968 | 40 | 86 |
| 6 | Nov 16, 1968 | 31 | 95 |
| 7 | Nov 23, 1968 | 22 | 104 |
| 8 | Nov 30, 1968 | 19 | 107 |
| 9 | Dec 7, 1968 | 16 | 110 |
| 10 | Dec 14, 1968 | 21 | 105 |
| 11 | Dec 21, 1968 | 21 | 105 |
| 12 | Dec 28, 1968 | 22 | 104 |
| 13 | Jan 4, 1969 | 45 | 81 |
| 14 | Jan 11, 1969 | 50 | 76 |