Remarks:
By far my favourite Cher song. In 1965 it went to #19 on the US R&B chart and #1 on pop charts across the Anglosphere – except for Australia where it inexplicably only went to #3. In the US it beat out “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones. In the UK it beat out “Help” by the Beatles. It sold three million copies in three weeks.
The song was Sonny Bono’s pop music answer to Bob Dylan’s unlistenable “It Ain’t Me Babe” (1964). He wrote the song on his piano (in the basement, garage, or maybe living room) about his wife Cher. Sonny says it was heart-felt:
“I know what it is like to be kicked around because you dress differently. I know what it is like to see the girl you love hurt because a hotel refuses you admission because of your dress. I know what it is like to have that one person stand by you. There are a lot of other people who have experienced these things and I’m trying to put our feelings into words for everyone.”
Sonny loved it, even woke up Cher in the middle of the night to hear her sing it. She thought it was terrible and went back to bed. The record company, Atco, did not like it at first either and wanted to put it on the B side of the now-forgotten “It’s Gonna Rain”. But Sonny got an LA radio station to play it once an hour and the rest is history.
Harold Battiste was the instrumental arranger, oboe and all. He also arranged Sam Cooke’s immortal “You Send Me” (1957) and Barbara George’s “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)” (1961).
See also:
- songs: the 1960s
- Cher
- The Ronettes: Be My Baby – Cher in 1963 was a backing singer on this song
- Beyonce Knowles
- Solange: F*ck the Industry (Signed Sincerely)
- also not liked by record companies:
Lyrics:
Her: they say we’re young and we don’t know we won’t find out until we grow
Him: well I don’t know if all that’s true ’cause you got me, and baby I got you
Him: babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe
Her: they say our love won’t pay the rent before it’s earned, our money’s all been spent
Him: I guess that’s so, we don’t have a pot but at least I’m sure of all the things we got
Him: babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe
Him: I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring
Her: and when I’m sad, you’re a clown and if I get scared, you’re always around
Her: so let them say your hair’s too long ’cause I don’t care, with you I can’t go wrong
Him: then put your little hand in mine there ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb
Him: babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe
Him: I got you to hold my hand
Her: I got you to understand
Him: I got you to walk with me
Her: I got you to talk with me
Him: igot you to kiss goodnight
Her: I got you to hold me tight
Him: I got you, I won’t let go
Her: I got you to love me so
Both: I got you babe I got you babe I got you babe I got you babe I got you babe
Source: Songfacts.
Abagond 
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