I'm saying all the things that I know you'll like
Making good conversation
I got a handle you just right
You know what I mean
I took you to an intimate restaurant
Then to a suggestive movie
There's nothing left to talk about
'Less it's horizontally

Let's get physical, physical
I want to get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Let's get physical, physical
I want to get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

I've been patient, I've been good
Tried to keep my hands on the table
It's gettin' hard this holdin' back
You know what I mean

I'm sure you'll understand my point of view
We know each other mentally
You gotta know that you're bringin' out
The animal in me

Let's get physical, physical
I want to get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Let's get physical, physical
I want to get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Oh, let's get physical, physical
I want to get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Let's get animal, animal
I want to get animal
Let's get into animal
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Let me hear your body talk
Let me hear your body talk


Lyrics submitted by ragna

Physical Lyrics as written by Terry Shaddick Stephen Kipner

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Physical song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This song is really too light and peppy to be very dirty. I guess ONJ did that on purpose to coincide with her girl-next-door image. Still, I like it, and I applaud her for singing a song in which the woman takes the lead in seducing the man. Not very many songs or other media acknowledge that guys aren't the only ones sitting there thinking dirty thoughts about their dates...

    goddesscarolineon September 13, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It was very racy at the time (even banned in some areas). She specifically did it to go against her good girl image.

    kmk_natashaon November 30, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The video was funny. Apparently she was ready to pull the record like the day before it was like set to be released.( It was a number one in 1981). She was horrified,because she didn't want to be seen as some sexually aggressive woman. It didn't seem to tarnish her image at all. She was and still a great vocalist. :)

    vulnaviaon December 09, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    haha the Sue Sylvester 'Glee' version is so funny :) is there anything she can't do (except be nice the the glee club...)

    PhObOton May 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ONJ tries a "raunchy" song. Catchy 80's pop. It's good, but not great.

    endofthelinejoelon June 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    recvo did the best cover of this

    slevletteon December 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song!!

    missmeon March 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    @goddesscaroline - You're right. I remember rockin' to this song when I was a kid. I always thought it was about jazzercise. I only read the lyrics, "There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally," today for the first time. It's pretty obvious what she's implying.

    @vulnavia - So, I wanted to verify that my beliefs about jazzercise were wrong by re-watching the video for the first time in 30 years. You're right, it is pretty funny. But I think there's a deeper meaning to this song:

    In the video, OLJ starts out fantasizing about a bunch of hot, sweaty, speedo-clad muscle-men. The scene changes and she's surrounded by several overweight slobbish guys poorly attempting to work out. She then tries to help out the overweight guys, taking a physical trainer role.

    It's the end of the video that really tells the deeper story. In the last scene, all the overweight guys are magically transformed into their muscle-clad counterparts, but then something poignant happens: the hot guys all pair up into couples and walk out of the gym holding hands with their partners! I'd say this is a somewhat precocious twist for 1981! Finally, OLJ goes back and finds a tall, dark, overweight guy and "hooks up" with him.

    So, I think the real meaning of this song is to bemoan that she can't get what she thinks she wants in her fantasy. After all, the really sexy men are all gay. So she must settle for a mediocre-looking guy if she wants to ever get some action.

    codecavon October 23, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    despite all the mass of effort thrown against it sex is still fun

    sdz896542on August 11, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics in this song are outright hilarious. I think this song is actually a subversive parroting of how some men treat women, and how dubious that is.

    The verses tell the real story:

    "I've been patient, I've been good Tried to keep my hands on the table It's gettin' hard this holdin' back If you know what I mean"

    It reads as "aw c'mon, look, I've been a nice guy, now it's time for you to hold up your end of the deal". I see it as poking fun at that sort of attitude, pointing out how ridiculous it is. The video is sort of an extension of this idea, where she is forcibly making rotund men work out whether they want to or not .... pairing this with the lyrics, it almost reads as a date rape song. "Come on, you'll enjoy yourself, just relax", that sort of thing.

    arvis11247on April 25, 2018   Link

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