"Sharona was a girl that worked in a children's clothing store across from where my girlfriend cut hair. She was still in high school.

"I was visiting my girlfriend, and we bumped into Sharona in front of the shop that she was working in. It literally was love at first sight for me, or at least lust.

"Later, when the band was rehearsing, we came up with that opening drumbeat and bass line. Our drummer didn't like it. In fact he almost refused to play it, but the rest of us thought it was really catchy.

"Nothing lyrically really came to mind at first, but after working on it a little bit, I came up with 'Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona,' and the guys said, 'You can't sing that. Are you crazy? Your girlfriend will kill you!'

"Once I had the direction, it didn't take long to finish the record.

"That's actually Sharona on the cover of the jacket for the single. She's also on the cover of our second album.

"We ended up living together for four years. She's now a very successful real estate agent in California."

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