Chester Burton Atkins born 20 June 1924 - Died 30 June 2001 in Nashville, T… Read Full Bio ↴Chester Burton Atkins born 20 June 1924 - Died 30 June 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (1942–1996) . was an American guitarist and record producer. Together with Owen Bradley, Atkins created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country music's appeal to include adult pop music fans as well. His virtuoso picking style - inspired by Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes and Les Paul - brought him admirers both within and outside the country scene. Atkins produced records for Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Connie Smith, and Waylon Jennings.

Unchained Melody
Chet Atkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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,
God speed 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
God speed your love to me

Overall Meaning

Chet Atkins's version of Unchained Melody was originally written by Alex North and Hy Zaret in 1955. Since then, it has been covered by many artists, but Atkins's version stands out for its emotional depth and gentle guitar playing. The lyrics of the song speak about a deep, yearning love that transcends time and distance.

The beginning of the song sets the tone for a longing that has been felt for a long time. The singer speaks of how they have hungered for the touch of their love for a long, lonely time. The repetition of the phrase "And time goes by so slowly" emphasizes the painful waiting that the singer has endured, and the line "time can do so much" suggests that the ongoing emptiness has taken a toll. The question, "Are you still mine?" adds a level of uncertainty and expresses the fear that a long separation might have caused their love to weaken.

The second verse speaks of the loneliness of the rivers flowing towards the sea, as they anticipate the moment when they finally meet the arms of the sea. The singer compares themselves to the river, hoping to be reunited with their love. The repetition of the phrase "wait for me" adds an urgency and a plea for patience. The final verses are a repetition of the opening lines with the addition of "God speed your love to me." It's a simple and raw song that perfectly captures the pain of a long-distance relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, my love, my darling
Addressing a lover with personal affectio

I've hungered for your touch
Expressing yearning for physical affection

A long, lonely time
Emphasizing the duration of time spent apart

And time goes by so slowly
Noting the subjective experience of time without the beloved

And time can do so much
Acknowledging the ability of time to change things

Are you still mine?
Expressing anxiety about the state of the relationship

I need your love,
Expressing a desire for emotional connection

God speed your love to me
Requesting divine intervention to bring the lover closer

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
Using a natural metaphor for the journey of loneliness

To the open arms of the sea
Personifying the sea as a welcoming entity

Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me
Heightening the human emotion of loneliness

I'll be coming home, wait for me
Promising a return to the lover

Oh, my love, my darling
Repeating the phrase for emotional emphasis

I've hungered for your touch
Restating the central longing of the song

A long, lonely time
Repeating the duration for increased emotional impact

And time goes by so slowly
Reiterating the theme of subjective time perception

And time can do so much
Repeating the motif of time's power to change things

Are you still mine?
Repeating the anxious question about the state of the relationship

I need your love,
Repeating the emotional desire for connection

I need your love
Repeating the emotional plea

God speed your love to me
Repeating the divine request

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

vern ingles

6y↑7

CHET ATKINS WAS GODS GIFT TO THE GUITAR AND TO ALL WHO LOVE THE BEUTIFUL MUSIC HE ONLY COULD GET OUT OF IT FOR ALL TO ENJOY, R.I.P. MR. GUITAR.

Ulises Victoria

10y↑8

One of the most beautiful songs ever written, played by a true Master.

Mj Allen

11y↑1

omg how beautiful!!!!!!!! Chet your voice will live on forever thru your music! people may not hear your words anymore, but your music will never be forgotten.

dan starnes

Beautiful guitar! In my opinion the greatest love song ever written!

Macangusagain

13y↑1

Sweet and perfect ! Like the greatest vintage wine,sparkling in a glass in the sunshine !! What an amazing amazing talent !!!!!!

noblesiner

13y

I've got this on vinyl. Chet was amazing.

missjudi1

14y

Now THAT'S how the song should be done. Thanks for showing me that the song could be improved even more by the late great Chet Atkins!

jay

13y

this man was a hell of a guitar player amazing:)

Jon Adamson

I've always loved this one... it was on one of the first two albums I received as a grammar school graduation present in 1957.

bruce werner

11y

That's an amazing and accurate description that millions can agree with you totally.

jetaud555

12y

Nice choice, Daffy. The delay (echo) makes it sound great and different. I think Chet was like that with his recordings (eg. 'Snowbird') - always trying something new.

mr8ballme4

15y

Just amazing. He is missed so

violet2048

11y↑3

Sweet and Pure, that's what it sounds like me. So romantic, makes you want to dance in the arms of the one you love.

Alexander Syrus

Chet Atkins unchaining our souls. RIP the grand master.

David Bayer

11y

This is the most incredible piece of solo instrumental music of all time. As a guitaristI agree, my wife as a symphony musician agrees. The voicings, the smoothness, Chet was the greatest at any instrument, ever, period. I own it on vinyl too. I don't know how you could put a value on it, It is literally incredible.

JOHN MENUIS

12y↑2

To compare Chet Atkins with the Ventures is like comparing a pound of gold to an ounce of copper. There has never been a more copied guitarist. Even the Ventures admit their Walk don't Run was inspired by Chet's more jazz like version. There are many wannabes but there was is and ever will be one Chet Atkins.

Bill Martin

11y

This was nothing new for Chet, he was using it in many of his earliest recordings.

Al Weber

9y↑4

I had the good fortune to see the original live sung by Mr Al Hibbler 55yrs ago

jmoody166

Don’t recall hearing that version. My wife loved it by the Righteous Brothers and I preferred it by Marty Robbins.

Geoff Wall-Davis

7y↑1

Chet makes the guitar talk.

Dana Leonard

Beautiful

Fernando ledesma

14y

this is song almost brings me to tears

birdhunter1936

14y

@DUGGER1947 // Birdhunter1936: I was in Korea in 1954/55 and I first heard Unchained Melody by Chet Atkins. We had an old version of a juke-box and had tokens, 5c-each, and played that record so many times it was worn out and had to be replaced a few times. The Eberly Brothers vocal is, my opinion, the best ever. Listening to Unchained Melody takes me back many years. Take care!

bruce werner

11y

I could not possibly agree with you more. Well said.

Doug Hendrixson

14y

@birdhunter1936 : I believe the vocal you're thinking about (if it was of Unchained Melody) was NOT done by the Everly Brothers, but rather it was done by the Righteous Brothers. If you saw the movie "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze & Demi Moore, it was their favorite romantic song. I have it admit, it is one of mine as well.

naalar

14y

I had forgotten this beautiful piece by Chet. Is that Marcel D. with him ?? Larry

Nikola Ristovic

11y

Any similar arramgements/songs by Chat Atkins?

birdhunter1936

14y

@DUGGER1947 -- birdhunter1936, back again. Yep, you're right, I don't know how I messed up, it was the Righteous Brothers. Actually, the Righteous Brothers presentation is my MOST FAVORITE! Thanks for correcting my goof!

SelectCircle

Is this his 1956 recording?

Fernando ledesma

14y

the original album is from 1957 i have the original lp album is mono

Karen A T

12y

@CharlesMartel0732 Thank god for that!! It's so cheesy, and it gives me motion sickness bleurrrgghh! I would rather hear the true sound, especially of a player this good. But thanks for your comment.

Mary Sorensen

12y

Longing for yesterday

Doug Hendrixson

14y

The photo is of Chet and Marcel Dadi, but Dadi didn't play with Chet on the song. Unchained Melody was from the "Fingersyle Guitar" album, recorded around 1960 if I'm not mistaken. Dadi would have been 9 or 10 years old at that time.