His single "Here in My Heart" was number one in the first UK Singles Chart, published by the New Musical Express in 1952, putting him into the Guinness Book of World Records. The song stayed there for nine weeks. Al Martino has stated that Mario Lanza dropped his plans to record this song after he called Lanza in Los Angeles and explained that his own recording would be neglected if he did so.
One of the most successful Martino hits was "Spanish Eyes", achieving several gold and platinum discs for sales. Recorded in 1965, the song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart when re-issued in 1973. Even today, this classic by composer Bert Kaempfert (his original title for the song was "Moon Over Naples") is among the 50 most-played songs worldwide. Another hit was "Volare", (also known as "Nel blu, Dipinto di Blu"). In 1976, it reached number one on the Italian and Flemish charts, and was in the Top Ten in Spain, The Netherlands and France, as well as in many other European countries.
In the U.S., Martino had eleven top 40 hits in the Billboard pop singles chart in the 1960s and 1970s, with 1963's "I Love You Because" (#3) and 1964's "I Love You More and More Every Day" (#9) both reaching the Top Ten. He also sang the title song for the film, "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (1964), and is credited in the end titles of the film.
Apart from singing, Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's theme, "Speak Softly Love". He played the same role in The Godfather Part III and The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980. He recently returned to acting, playing aging crooner Sal Stevens in the short film "Cutout", appearing in film festivals around the world in 2006.
When an artist is able to combine several important elements -- numerous international hit records, personal charisma, and a unique vocal style -- it inevitably leads to success. Known for such hits as "Spanish Eyes" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" in the 60's, Al Martino was in the midst of beginning his second career, which had already taken off with great momentum in the European market. Since the fall of 1993, Al Martino's songs had flooded the radio and television airwaves in Germany, and he consistently had sold-out concerts throughout the continent.
He continued to play to audiences in his later years around venues in the USA. Sadly he died on the 14th October 2009.
Night And Day
Al Martino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the tom-tom;
When the jungle shadows fall,
Like the tick, tick, tock
Of the stately clock,
As it stands against the wall,
Like the drip, drip, drip,
Of the raindrops,
So a voice within me
Keeps repeating,
You, you, you
Night and day
You are the one,
Only you
Beneath the moon
And under the sun.
Whether near to me or far,
It's no matter,
Darling, where you are
I think of you
Night and day.
Day and night
Why is it so,
That this longing for you follows
Where-ever I go?
In the roaring traffic's boom,
In the silence of my lonely room,
I think of you,
Night and day.
Night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an
Oh, such a hungry yearning,
Burning inside of me.
And its torment won't be through
Til you let me spend my life
Making love to you,
Day and night,
Night and day.
The lyrics of Al Martino's "Night and Day" in the first stanza can be interpreted as a representation of the thoughts that keep recurring within a person's mind, like the beat of a drum or the ticking of a clock, or the sound of raindrops after a summer shower. These repetitive sounds serve as a metaphor for the constant and unwavering feelings that an individual has for another person. The lines "You, you, you" emphasize the intensity of these emotions and how they are solely focused on one particular person.
The second stanza emphasizes the strength and depth of these emotions, demonstrating that the singer thinks of this person constantly regardless of where he is or what he is doing. The line "Why is it so that this longing for you follows wherever I go?" further displays the unrelenting nature of these emotions. The final phrase, "Night and day, under the hide of me, there's an oh, such a hungry yearning burning inside of me," shows the intense desire and need the singer has for this person, to the extent that they are unable to get them out of their mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the beat, beat, beat,
Of the tom-tom;
The constant rhythm and sound of my heart beating is like the beat of a tom-tom drum.
When the jungle shadows fall,
Like the tick, tick, tock
Of the stately clock,
As it stands against the wall,
The sound of the clock ticking is like the fall of the jungle shadows.
Like the drip, drip, drip,
Of the raindrops,
When the summer shower is through;
The sound of raindrops dripping after a summer shower parallels the insistent voice in my head repeating the name of my beloved.
So a voice within me
Keeps repeating,
You, you, you
The constant repeating voice inside my head is calling out the name of my beloved.
Night and day
You are the one,
Only you
My beloved - who I think of day and night - is the only one for me.
Beneath the moon
And under the sun.
My love for my beloved persists both by day and by night.
Whether near to me or far,
It's no matter,
Darling, where you are
I think of you
Night and day.
I constantly think of my beloved whether they are near or far away.
Day and night
Why is it so,
That this longing for you follows
Where-ever I go?
I am continually haunted by my longing and love for my beloved, day and night.
In the roaring traffic's boom,
In the silence of my lonely room,
I think of you,
Night and day.
My thoughts of my beloved are with me in both loud and chaotic spaces, and in quiet and lonely spaces.
Night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an
Oh, such a hungry yearning,
Burning inside of me.
My deep and intense passion for my beloved burns within me day and night, an insatiable hunger.
And its torment won't be through
Til you let me spend my life
Making love to you,
Day and night,
Night and day.
I cannot rest until I am able to spend my life making love to my beloved, both day and night.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind