Sounds much creepier than it actually was.

For most of this song, Gilbert O’Sullivan sounds like he’s singing to his (much) younger girlfriend. It gets more and more awkward as he gets firm with her and orders her back in bed, but then he reveals he is not Clair’s boyfriend, but her babysitter.

Clair is a real girl, the 3-year-old daughter of O’Sullivan’s manager, Gordon Mills. Gilbert did indeed babysit her and experienced the joy and pain that comes from spending time with a delightful little girl who won’t go to bed. That’s the real Clair laughing at the end of the song.

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Clair, the moment I met you
I swear I felt as if something
Somewhere had happened to me
Which I couldn’t see

And then the moment I met you again
I knew in my heart that we were friends
It had to be so it couldn’t be no
But try as hard as I might do

I don’t know why you get to me
In a way I can’t describe
Words mean so little
When you look up and smile

I don’t care what people say to me
You’re more than a child, oh Clair
Clair

Clair, if ever a moment so rare
Was captured for all to compare
That moment is you in all that you do
But why in spite of our age difference
Do I cry each time I leave you

I feel I could die
Nothing means more to me
Than hearing you say
I’m going to marry you
Will you marry me, Uncle Ray?”
Oh Clair, Clair

Clair I’ve told you before don’t you dare
Get back into bed can’t you see that is late
No you can’t have a drink
Oh alright then, but wait just a bit

While I in an effort to baby sit
Capture my breath what there is left of it
You can be murder at this hour of the day
But in the morning tonight will seem a life time away
Oh Clair, Clair

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