Newley had a successful pop music career, with two number one hits in 1960: "Why?" and "Do You Mind?". He won the 1963 Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "What Kind of Fool Am I", but he was also well-known for "Gonna Build a Mountain" and comic novelty songs such as his version of "Strawberry Fair". He wrote songs that others made hits including Goldfinger (the title song of the James Bond movie), and Feeling Good, which became a hit for Nina Simone. With Leslie Bricusse, he wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off in which he also performed, earning a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. His other musicals included The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl. The play was released in a film version in 1971.
Newley's vocal style has been recognised as a major influence on that of David Bowie. In recognition of his creative skills and body of work, Newley was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.
The shortlived 1960 ATV series "The Strange World of Gurney Slade" in which Newley starred, continues to have a cult following due to its postmodern premise that the Newley character is trapped inside a television programme. Apart from a repeat of one episode on Channel 4 in 1992, it has not been seen in the UK in recent years. The show's theme tune by Max Harris may be better-known today than the series itself.
His last feature role in the cast of EastEnders was to be a regular role, but Newley had to withdraw after a few months when his health began to fail.
I've Waited So Long
Anthony Newley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So long, I've waited so long)
I've waited so long, a lifetime it seems
For someone to step right out of my dreams
All that an angel could be
And meant for only me.
Tell me of dreams that never come true
Sing me a lonely song
Till she comes along
It will be so wonderful
When love comes my way
No more lonely hours
They'll just fade away
Some day we'll meet, somewhere I know
We'll kiss and say "I love you so"
Darling, surely I can't be so wrong
For I've waited, yes I've waited
So very lo-o-ong
So long, my darling
So long, my darling, darling
The lyrics to Anthony Newley's song, "I've Waited So Long," express the sentiment of a person who has been waiting patiently for love to come their way. The person in the song has spent their whole life waiting for someone right to step into their life, someone that embodies all the qualities of an angel, and is meant only for them. They ask the singer to play a tune that is haunting and blue, and sing them a lonely song until that person comes along. They believe that love will be wonderful when it finally comes their way, and all their lonely hours will fade away. The lyrics end with the person expressing the hope that someday they will find their true love and that they will kiss and say "I love you so."
Overall, the song's lyrics express longing and patience in the search for love. The person in the song has been waiting for so long that they've almost lost hope, but they still hold on to the belief that true love will eventually come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
I've waited so long, a lifetime it seems
The singer has waited an incredibly long time for someone to come into their life
For someone to step right out of my dreams
This person has been waiting for a dreamlike figure to appear in their life
All that an angel could be
This ideal person the singer has been waiting for is like an angel, pure and perfect
And meant for only me.
The singer believes that this perfect person is meant only for them
Play me a tune, haunting and blue
The singer wants to hear a sad and emotional song
Tell me of dreams that never come true
They want to hear a song about things that never work out as planned
Sing me a lonely song
The singer wants to hear a song that reflects their current emotional state
Till she comes along
The singer hopes that hearing this song will make them feel better until they find the person they've been waiting for
It will be so wonderful
The singer imagines that when they find love it will be an amazing experience
When love comes my way
The singer is optimistic that love will find them
No more lonely hours
The singer hopes that when they find love they will no longer be lonely
They'll just fade away
The singer believes that their feelings of loneliness will disappear when they find love
Some day we'll meet, somewhere I know
The singer believes that they will eventually meet the person they've been waiting for
We'll kiss and say "I love you so"
The singer imagines a perfect moment when they finally confess their love to the person they've been waiting for
Darling, surely I can't be so wrong
The singer is confident that they are not mistaken in waiting for this ideal person they dream of
For I've waited, yes I've waited, So very lo-o-ong
The singer has been waiting such a long time for love that it almost feels like forever
So long, my darling
The singer is saying goodbye to the person they've been waiting for
So long, my darling, darling
The singer is saying a final goodbye with a touch of affection
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMIAH LORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zep 4
I absolutely love this song, his voice, everything about Anthony Newley.
Roy Biggin
CAN DO NO WRONG. NEWLEY WAS VERY UNDERRATED - SADDLY MISSED
Phaedrax2
I met Anthony Newley back in the 50's when he was visiting our town promoting the film Idol on Parade, How different it was then! No red carpet, just Tony and his manager, he sat with us in the cinema to watch the film then we all went dancing at the Locarno! :-) Just before he died, he came to a local theatre with his one man show - it was excellent. I dropped him a line telling him how much I'd enjoyed the show and he replied. Lovely talented man. <3 Sadly missed.
Les Reed
Lovely - actor, funster or straight singer, Tony had it all. Thanks for posting this clip.
Sandy N
How lovely! Thank you so much.
Gay Bee
Brilliant fantastic to hear it again
Paul Stagedoor Productions
Thanks to "Sony Made On Demand" we now have a beautiful widescreen prestine version to enjoy. This was round two for the Newley career canon.
Sue Selfe
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, the greatest entertainer the world has know! You can see I love Mr> Newley!!! xx
Liz Doyle
BEFORE THE BEATLES N ALL TODAY'S GROUPS WAS ANTHONY NEWLEY 🌟🌟🌟🌟
HE WAS MOBBED BY FANS HE WAS SO GOOD 🌟I'M SURE ALL THE SINGERS LEARNT A LOT FROM ANTHONY NEWLEY
YEH HE WAS A REAL TALENTED PERSON EVEN LATER ON HE DID SO MUCH IN THE MOVIE N SONG WRITING AREA
ONE OF THE FIRST POP SINGERS N SUPERSTARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Sandy N
And I do wish Sony would strongly consider releasing more of the Warwick films. PLEASE?!