Hall & Oates Quotes

Daryl Hall and John Oates mixed Philadelphia soul with pop and rock and became one of the most successful duos in music history. Here is their story, a guide to their essential songs and a set of original lines inspired by their music.

The story of Hall & Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates met in Philadelphia in 1967 and began writing songs together, influenced by the soul and doo-wop of their city. “She’s Gone” and “Sara Smile” brought their first big successes in the mid-1970s, and “Rich Girl” (1977) was their first number one in the United States.

In the early 1980s they had an extraordinary run of hits: “Kiss on My List”, “Private Eyes”, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”, “Maneater” and “Out of Touch”. They entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, and their songs are still heard everywhere, from films to TV commercials.

Songs that say it best

• She’s Gone (1973): a soulful song about the emptiness after a breakup.
• Sara Smile (1976): a tender love song written for Hall’s partner.
• Rich Girl (1977): a song about someone who thinks money solves everything.
• I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) (1981): a cool, minimal groove about setting limits.
• Maneater (1982): a warning about a dangerous charmer.
• Out of Touch (1984): a song about losing connection in a fast world.

Quotes inspired by Hall & Oates

The lines below are our own, written by the Pretty Phrases team in the spirit of the music of Hall & Oates. They are not song lyrics and they are not statements by the artists.

1. Know your limits and say them out loud.
2. Money is not a personality.
3. Smile for the people who make you smile.
4. Stay in touch with the things that matter.

5. Some charm is a warning; listen to your instincts.
6. A good partnership is half talent, half trust.
7. Soul is not a style; it is how you feel the music.
8. Let go gracefully when love is gone.

9. Private dreams deserve public courage.
10. Groove slowly; there is no rush.
11. Be kind to your old self and proud of your new self.
12. The best duets are built on respect.

Hall & Oates made smooth songs with sharp messages. Share these lines with your favourite partner in crime.