Music Blog

You Don’t Have To Say You Love Her

The Sicilian Storyteller

Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about songs that were
played on the UK shows Top of the Pops or Ready, Steady, Go!
Our theme was suggested by Willow of WILLOWDOT21.

Ah, I see the tables have been turned. Isn’t that interesting? Well, as a Yank I know absolutely nothing about either of these English shows in today’s theme but I am taking the high road and not grousing as some of my UK friends did when faced with my theme suggestion of “songs by American Idol contestants”. Just saying. 😎 😉

Before breaking out on her own, Dusty Springfield was a member of The Springfields with her brother Tom. The group had five Top 10 hits in the UK and one in the US (“Silver Threads and Golden Needles”). Dusty’s first single as a solo artist, “I Only Want To Be With You”, written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde, launched her Hall of Fame career and became the first hit by a British artist since the Beatles started their run.

Released in November 1963, three weeks after the Springfields’ final concert, “I Only Want to Be With You” was a global success, reaching #4 in the UK, #12 in the US, #6 Australia and #21 Canada. In the US, Dusty Springfield was the second artist of the British Invasion, after the Beatles, to have a hit, entering the Billboard chart at #77 in the last week of January 1964 (the Beatles having “She Loves You” at #69 and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” at #3).

Today’s song is about a girl who has finally found the guy of her dreams – or at least she thinks so. It’s very much a teenage crush song in the same vein as many of the girl group songs Springfield loved. When she came to the US and began her solo career, Dusty took more of a pop/R&B direction inspired by groups like the Shirelles and the Crystals.

Dusty Springfield performed this song on the first ever episode of the British TV show Top Of The Pops on January 1, 1964. The Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five and the Hollies were on that show as well. Springfield also performed this song twice in 1963 on the first season of the British TV series Ready, Steady, Go! She handled hosting duties on some early episodes of the show and interviewed the Beatles on the program.

Dusty Springfield is also my favorite female pop singer of all time.

Now, let’s watch the video of Dusty Springfield performing on Top Of The Pops. This is “I Only Want To Be With You”.

LYRICS

I don’t know what it is that makes me love you so
I only know I never want to let you go
‘Cause you started something, oh, can’t you see?
That ever since we met you’ve had a hold on me
It happens to be true, I only want to be with you

It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do
I want to spend each moment of the day with you
Well, look what has happened with just one kiss
I never knew that I could be in love like this
It’s crazy but it’s true, I only want to be with you

You stopped and smiled at me
Asked if I’d care to dance
I fell into your open arms
And I didn’t stand a chance

Now, listen, honey, I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we’re together, honey, I don’t care
‘Cause you started something, oh, can’t you see?
That ever since we met you’ve had a hold on me
No matter what you do, I only want to be with you

Oh, you stopped and you smiled at me
Asked if I’d care to dance
I fell into your open arms
I didn’t stand a chance

Now hear me darling, I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we’re together, honey, I don’t care
‘Cause you started something, oh, can’t you see?
That ever since we met you’ve had a hold on me
No matter what you do, I only want to be with you

I said, no matter, no matter what you do
I only want to be with you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Ivor Raymonde / Michael Hawker
I Only Want to Be With You lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Swinging London

Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday and to Willow for coming up with a terrific theme.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

27 thoughts on “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Her”

  9. We have a saying here from football: “you cross it, I’ll head it in.” I could see what you were doing to set that up!

    Yes, she was a special talent, though her dance steps could have done with some work 🤣

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  10. Grousing? Who groused? Aside from me, that is. At least this has given some counterbalance to make you Yanks think about us 🤣

    You can’t go wrong with Rusty Springboard, can you? Loved her back in the day, even though I knew I didn’t stand a chance 😉

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    1. When an opportunity for some good-hearted ribbing falls into my lap, you know I’m going to take it and run with it! I knew you’d be a good sport about it. 😉

      Dusty certainly was the queen bee; not too many of her caliber around. She had a troubled life with plenty of demons but that never took away from her totally professionalism and incredible artistry. What a talent!

      Thanks, Clive

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  11. Oops, we did it again. I chose the same song as you (before reading your post, of course) and mine will be posted on my blog in a little under five hours from now at 3:00 am Pacific time.

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