Bette Midler (December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, and comedia… Read Full Bio ↴Bette Midler (December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known to her fans and especially in gay culture, as The Divine Miss M. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Jewish parents from New Jersey, and raised there. Midler relocated to New York City to pursue acting on stage, and in 1970 she began singing at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in the city, where she became close to her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow, who produced her first major album, The Divine Miss M in 1973. She is named after the actress Bette Davis although Davis pronounced her name in two syllables, and Midler uses one.

During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. She performed a new concert show, The Showgirl Must Go On, live five nights a week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2011 (together with Cher and Elton John).

I Know You by Heart
Bette Midler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Bette Midler]
Everybody wants to find a love,
Somebody, somebody who will always care.
But we get locked up in our own worlds,
With feelings and secrets we're afraid to share.

[David Pack]
But all I have to do is see you smile,

Or maybe, just maybe if I brush your hand;
Something happens I cannot explain,
And somehow, oh somehow I can understand.

[D:] I, I think you're gonna find...
[B:] I'm gonna find you.
I'm gonna find you...

[B&D:] I know you by heart.
You're so much a part of me.
I know you by heart.
[D:] Can't you see?

[B&D:] It's no wonder I can love you
The way that I do.
I can finish any sentence you start.
Woah, I know you, I know you by heart.

[D:] I know every time you want to call,
I pick up the phone before it can ring.
[B:] And when you need some lovin', I'll be there
Beside you, anticipating everything.

[D:] Oh, it's like I always said...
[B:] You're the one I want.
And all I want is you.
[D:] I'm inside your head.

[B&D:] I know you by heart.
[D:] You're so much a part of me.
[B&D:] I know you by heart.
[B:] Can't you see?

[B&D:] It's no wonder I can love you
The way that I do.
I can finish any sentence you start.
Hey, woah, I know you by heart.
[D:] I know you by heart.

[B&D:] So much a part of me.
It's no wonder I love you
The way that I do.
I can finish any sentence you start.
I know you, I know you by heart.

I know you by heart.
So much a part of me.
I know you by heart.
So much a part of me.

I know you by heart.
So much a part of me.
I know you by heart.
Yeah, I know you by heart.
You're so much a part of me.
So much a part of me.

I know you by heart.
You're so much a part of me...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Know You by Heart" by Bette Midler express the longing for love and connection that is often overshadowed by fear and secrets. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges the universal desire for love and care but recognizes that people often become trapped in their own worlds, unable to share their true feelings and thoughts. However, in the chorus, it becomes clear that there is one person who understands her completely, and that connection is so strong that she knows that person "by heart." The second verse reveals the depth of the connection between the two people as they seem to anticipate each other's needs and thoughts.

The second chorus is slightly different, with David Pack taking the lead and expressing how he knows the other person so well that he can finish their sentences before they even begin. Overall, the song is about the profound intimacy that comes with knowing someone deeply and being known in return, no matter how complicated and messy life may be. The repeated refrain of "I know you by heart" emphasizes the level of understanding and closeness that exists between the singer and the person she is addressing.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody wants to find a love,
Everyone desires a romantic companion

Somebody, somebody who will always care.
Someone who will consistently show affection and concern

But we get locked up in our own worlds,
We become stuck in our own personal lives

With feelings and secrets we're afraid to share.
We have emotions and information that we're hesitant to reveal

But all I have to do is see you smile,
The simple act of your smile affects me deeply

Or maybe, just maybe if I brush your hand;
Perhaps even the briefest physical touch could be significant

Something happens I cannot explain,
An unexplainable feeling takes place

And somehow, oh somehow I can understand.
But somehow, I comprehend it all

I, I think you're gonna find...
I believe you'll come to realize...

I'm gonna find you.
I'll be the one to locate you

It's no wonder I can love you
It's not surprising that I am capable of loving you

The way that I do.
To the extent that I do

I can finish any sentence you start.
I can complete any thought you initiate

Woah, I know you, I know you by heart.
I know you deeply, I know you intimately

I know every time you want to call,
I am aware of when you desire to contact me

I pick up the phone before it can ring.
I answer before it even rings

And when you need some lovin', I'll be there
Whenever you require love, I'll be present

Beside you, anticipating everything.
Next to you, expectant of whatever occurs

You're the one I want.
You are the person I desire

And all I want is you.
I only want you

I'm inside your head.
I understand your thoughts and emotions

It's no wonder I can love you
Not surprisingly, I can love you

I know you by heart.
I know you intimately

So much a part of me.
You are a significant component of me

Yeah, I know you by heart.
Indeed, I know you intimately

You're so much a part of me.
You are a vital piece of who I am

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEAN PITCHFORD, GEORGE ROBERT MERRILL, SHANNON RUBICAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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