It Had to Be You
Andre Previn Dinah Shore Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why do I do just as you say?
Why must I just give you your way?
Why do I sigh?
Why do I try to forget?

It must have been that something lovers call "Fate"
Kept on saying I had to wait
I saw them all
Just couldn't fall till we met

It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me be blue
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you

Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss, but they wouldn't do
For nobody else gave me a thrill




With all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Andre Previn and Dinah Shore's It Had to Be You are an exploration of fate and love. The singer questions why they always do as their lover asks and why they keep trying to forget about them. It seems as though they have been waiting for something special, something that lovers call "Fate" to bring them together with someone who could make them be true, be blue, and even be glad just to be sad thinking of them.


The singer realizes that they have seen others who may not be mean or bossy, but they could not bring the same level of thrill that their lover does. They acknowledge their lover's faults, but they continue to love them nonetheless. The repetition of "it had to be you" emphasizes the idea that their love was meant to be and that they were destined to be together.


Line by Line Meaning

Why do I do just as you say?
Why do I always comply with your orders without resisting?


Why must I just give you your way?
Why am I always yielding to your desires?


Why do I sigh?
Why do I release exasperated breaths?


Why do I try to forget?
Why do I attempt to erase you from my mind?


It must have been that something lovers call 'Fate'
Perhaps it was an unexplainable and magical force called 'Fate'


Kept on saying I had to wait
That compelled me to persevere and hold out for you


I saw them all
I met other people in my life


Just couldn't fall till we met
However, I was unable to fall in love with them until I encountered you


It had to be you, it had to be you
It was definitely you, no one else could have made me feel this way


I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
I searched through different options and ultimately discovered the person who


Could make me be true, could make me be blue
Can inspire me to be genuine and make me feel both happy and sad


And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you
I can still feel happy even when I am sad, as long as I am thinking of you


Some others I've seen might never be mean
Possibly, the other individuals I've come across were never rude or unpleasant


Might never be cross or try to be boss, but they wouldn't do
In spite of that, they would not have been suitable for me


For nobody else gave me a thrill
Because no one else could excite me in the same way


With all your faults, I love you still
Despite all of your inadequacies, I still cherish you


It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you
You're incredible, and it's precisely you who I was destined to be with




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ISHAM JONES, GUS KAHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions