The song is sung from the point of view of a woman trying to mentor a young girl in identifying true love. She emphatically insists, "it's in his kiss." She becomes frustrated with the girl, who suggests other things such as his behavior and his embrace might instead be the signs she is looking for. The woman scolds the girl for not listening to her, and insists that the one sure sign of true love is seen in a lover's kisses.
Calvin Carter, the chief A&R man for the Chicago-located Vee-Jay Records, found "It's in His Kiss" while visiting New York City in search of material for the Vee-Jay roster which included Betty Everett. After Everett had a hit with another song Carter brought back from New York City, "You're No Good", Carter suggested Everett cut "It's in His Kiss" as the follow-up single. Everett – who found the song puerile – reluctantly agreed. The accompanying vocals on Everett's recording were provided by Vee-Jay session regulars the Opals, a trio of teenage girls (Rose "Tootsie" Addison, Myra Tilliston, and Rose E. Kelley from East Chicago, Indiana.
Dave Marsh in his book The Heart of Rock and Soul opines that Betty Everett's version, "while [credited] as a solo performance is one of the finest girl group hits, undoubtedly the best one made outside the genre's New York City/Philadelphia/Los Angeles "axis"".
ReceptionEdit
Everett's version of "The Shoop Shoop Song" reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 1964: at the time Billboard was not publishing its R&B chart but her cover was a number 1 R&B hit according to Cash Box. In international release, Everett's "The Shoop Shoop Song" was also a hit in Australia reaching number 21 but was initially overlooked in the UK although Everett's minor 1965 U.S. hit "Getting Mighty Crowded" (number 65) would reach number 29 in the UK. In 1968, the label President Records reissued both songs on one single, with "The Shoop Shoop Song" as the A-side, that peaked at number 34.
It's In His Kiss
Betty Everett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I tell if he loves me so
Is it in his eyes, oh no you'll be deceived
Is it in his eyes, oh no you'll make believe
If you want to know, if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is, oh yeah
In his warm embrace, oh no that's just his arm
If you want to know, if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is, oh it's in his kiss
That's where it is, oh-oh
Kiss him and squeeze him tight
And find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is
It's there in his kiss
How 'bout the way he acts, oh no that's not the way
And you're not listening to all I say
If you want to know, if he loves you so
It's in his kiss, that's where it is
Oh yeah it's in his kiss, that's where it is
Oh-oh, kiss him and squeeze him tight
And find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is
It's there in his kiss
How 'bout the way he acts, oh no that's not the way
And you're not listening to all I say
If you want to know, if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is, oh yeah it's in his kiss
That's where it is, oh it's in his kiss
The lyrics of Betty Everett's song "It's in His Kiss" explore the age-old question of how to tell if someone truly loves you. The singer expresses her desire to know whether her partner loves her or not, wondering if she can find the answer by looking into his eyes or at his face. However, she warns the listener not to be deceived by appearances or charm, as they can be misleading.
The refrain of the song declares that the answer to whether or not someone loves you is in their kiss. The singer suggests that by kissing your partner and holding them tight, you can find out if it's true love or not. The verses continue to caution against looking for signs in how someone acts, as that might not reveal anything about their true feelings. The song ends with the affirmation that "it's in his kiss", repeating the message that true love can be found in the physical expression of affection.
Overall, "It's in His Kiss" is a catchy and upbeat song with a fun and slightly cheesy message. The lyrics encourage listeners to enjoy the physical aspects of a relationship and not overthink things too much. The song has endured as a classic of 1960s pop music and has been covered by many other artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Does he love me, I want to know
The singer wonders if the person she likes truly loves her.
How can I tell if he loves me so
The singer wants to know how to determine if the person she likes loves her.
Is it in his eyes, oh no you'll be deceived
The singer thinks that looking into the person's eyes won't reveal their true feelings.
Is it in his eyes, oh no you'll make believe
The singer believes that looking into the person's eyes will only make it seem like they love her.
If you want to know, if he loves you so
The singer suggests that if someone wants to know if the person they like loves them, they should pay attention to a certain action.
It's in his kiss
The singer reveals that the way to know if someone loves you is through their kiss.
That's where it is, oh yeah
The singer reiterates that the kiss is where the answer lies.
Or is it in his face, oh no it's just his charm
The singer dismisses the idea that someone's face or charm can reveal if they love you.
In his warm embrace, oh no that's just his arm
The singer also dismisses the idea that someone's warm embrace can reveal if they love you, as it's just their arm around you.
Oh it's in his kiss
The singer repeats that the answer lies in the person's kiss.
Kiss him and squeeze him tight
The singer advises the listener to kiss and embrace the person tightly to find out if they love them.
And find out what you want to know
The singer encourages the listener to take action and find out the truth for themselves.
If it's love, if it really is
The singer clarifies that the answer they're looking for is whether the person truly loves them or not.
How 'bout the way he acts, oh no that's not the way
The singer again dismisses the notion that the person's actions alone can reveal if they love you.
And you're not listening to all I say
The singer implies that the listener is not paying attention to what she's suggesting.
That's where it is, oh yeah it's in his kiss
The singer reiterates that the truth lies in the kiss.
Oh it's in his kiss
The singer emphasizes once again that the answer the listener is looking for is in the person's kiss.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rudy Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@creolelady4096
My mother use to love this song when it was out. She would be cooking and dancing in the kitchen. Then she would dance her way to where my father was and kiss him in the lips. What a couple in love, married 54 years.
RIP Mommy and Daddy ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏 ❤️❤️❤️❤️
@justynak3867
what is the secret to being a couple in lasting love? if you don't mind.
@LittleSlim78
Wow. Great memories.
From South Louisiana.
@Alessandro-1708
👍👍
@Drakrau_TheDerg
They sounded like the best parents. Always in love, and what a marriage, 54 years
@cityboinyc
🙏
@valendanewell5901
All of Betty's songs became hits, she's deserving of way more recognition in the music industry. GREAT MUSIC!!💯
@bobbyheffley4955
"You're No Good" became a #1 hit for Linda Ronstadt.
@valendanewell5901
Thanks for the info 😊
@cindycrowley4208
This is the best version of the song. :)