Born Robert James Byrd in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of fifteen. As a member of the R&B group, the Hollywood Flames, he used the stage name Bobby Day to perform and record. He went several years with minor musical success limited to the West Coast, including being the original "Bob" in the duo Bob & Earl. In 1957, Day formed his own band called the "Satellites" following which he authored three songs that are seen today as rock and roll classics.
Bobby Day's best known songwriting efforts were "Over and Over" made popular by the Dave Clark Five in 1965 and "Little Bitty Pretty One" popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957, Clyde McPhatter in 1962 and the Jackson Five in 1972. However, Day is most remembered for his 1958 solo recording of the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit, "Rockin' Robin", a song covered by Michael Jackson in 1972.
Sometimes referred to as a one-hit wonder, despite numerous recordings with a variety of record companies, after "Rockin' Robin", Bobby Day never achieved a Top 40 hit again.
Bobby Day died of cancer in 1990 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Unchained Melody
Bobby Day Lyrics
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My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
Godspeed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea
To the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh 'wait for me, wait for me'
I'll be coming home wait for me
Oh, my love
My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
Godspeed your love to me
The lyrics to Bobby Day's "Unchained Melody" are about a lover who is yearning for the touch of their partner, who they have been separated from for a long time. The opening lines of "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch" show the depth of the singer's desire and emphasize the intimacy of the relationship. The following lines, "A long lonely time / And time goes by so slowly / And time can do so much / Are you still mine?" highlight the singer's feelings of loneliness and the uncertainty of whether or not their partner still loves them. The singer then pleads for the return of their love, saying "I need your love / Godspeed your love to me."
The second verse describes the loneliness of a river flowing towards the sea, in contrast to the comfort of a lover's embrace. The repetition of "wait for me" not only conveys the singer's desire to return to their partner, but also creates a sense of urgency and desperation. The final lines of the song continue to express the singer's longing for their partner and their need for their love.
Overall, "Unchained Melody" is a romantic ballad about the power of love and the depth of longing that can come with separation. The lyrics are simple yet poignant, and Bobby Day's vocal performance adds to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my love
The singer addresses his significant other affectionately.
My darling
The singer uses a term of endearment to express his love.
I've hungered for your touch
The singer has been longing for physical contact with his loved one.
A long lonely time
The singer has been lonely for an extended period without his loved one.
And time goes by so slowly
The singer perceives time as passing very slowly in his loneliness.
And time can do so much
The singer believes that time can affect a lot of change.
Are you still mine?
The singer wonders if his loved one still belongs to him.
I need your love
The singer expresses his need for the love of his significant other.
Godspeed your love to me
The singer requests that his loved one's love reaches him quickly.
Lonely rivers flow to the sea
The singer observes that isolated rivers end up in the vast sea.
To the sea
The singer emphasizes that the water bodies travel a great distance before reaching the sea.
To the open arms of the sea
The singer uses a metaphor to describe how the open arms of the sea receive the lonely rivers.
Lonely rivers sigh 'wait for me, wait for me'
The singer imagines the rivers longing to reunite with the sea.
I'll be coming home wait for me
The singer promises to return home and asks his loved one to wait for him.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind