Little L

Album: A Funk Odyssey (2001)
Charted: 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lead singer Jay Kay wrote this song about his ex-girlfriend Denise Van Outen, a British actress and dancer, after their breakup. Rumors of cheating swirled on both sides, but Jay Kay insisted the parting was amicable ... "whenever Denise wants it to be," that is.
  • "['Little L'] encompasses one day of my relationship with Denise. Not the whole thing. 'You make me love you with a little L, I can't understand what you want from me.' Which is what it was like with Den," Jay Kay explained to Esquire.

    "With Den it seemed like I couldn't do any right. She's a great girl, but you've got to hunt for what you really want, and we had slightly conflicting ideas about what that was. I'm a real long term guy. I really wanna be with someone to love them and have kids with them. Marriage, just because everyone else is doing it, does not come first. You don't need to marry me, 'cos you can have me, all of me. I've got so much love to give, to the right woman. And I don't think I'm a bad lad really ... It's not about buying rings; it's about offering love and being treated like the guy I really am, and that didn't really materialize."
  • This song was featured in the 2002 romantic comedy The Sweetest Thing, starring Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair. It was also used in the 2010 romantic comedy The Switch, starring Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston.

Comments: 1

  • Paulina from Santiago, Chilemish.. I thought it could have been something like that.. a cheating, or maybe a girl he didnt love much because the girl was crazy haha
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.