One of the songwriters, Horace Ott, who is not listed in the credits, recalls how this song came about; (pointing to his wife – whose maiden name was Gloria Caldwell) had a bit of a falling out. She was my girlfriend at the time. I was feeling low and this tune came into my head (he hums a few notes and sings “I’m just a soul who’s intentions are good/Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood”). I brought it to my writing partners who helped me finish the song…I used her name because I was signed to B.M.I. at the time and my writing partners were signed to A.S.C.A.P. Back then, a B.M.I member couldn’t co-write with a member from A.S.C.A.P. After that I had a saying, ‘Just call me Gloria.’"