Along with a successful recording career in the 1960s and early 1970s, Black hosted her own eponymous variety show, Cilla, for the BBC between 1968 and 1976. After a brief time as a comedy actress in the mid-1970s, she became a prominent television presenter in the 1980s and 1990s, hosting hit entertainment shows such as Blind Date (1985–2003) and Surprise Surprise (1984–2001).
In 2013, Black celebrated her 50 years in show business. British television network ITV honoured this milestone with a one-off entertainment special which aired on 16 October 2013. The show, called The One & Only Cilla Black, featured Black herself and was hosted by Paul O'Grady.
Black died at her holiday home near Marbella, Spain, on 1 August 2015. She was 72.
Love Letters
Cilla Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep us so near while apart
I'm not alone in the night
When I can have all the love you write
I'll memorize every line
And I'll kiss the name that you sign
And darling then
I'll read again right from the start
I'll memorize every line
And I'll kiss the name that you sign
And darling then
I'll read again right from the start
Love letters straight from your heart
And darling then
I'll read again right from the start
Love letters straight from your heart
The lyrics of Cilla Black's Love Letters convey the powerful sentiment of a long-distance romance kept alive through written correspondence. The songwriter captures the essence of passionate love and the longing for connection and closeness even when physically separated. The opening lines, "Love letters straight from your heart, Keep us so near while apart" emphasize the deep emotional bond that develops through the exchange of letters.
The words "I'm not alone in the night, When I can have all the love you write" suggest that receiving love letters serves as a source of comfort and reassurance for the recipient, even in moments of loneliness. The emphasis on "memorizing every line" and "kissing the name that you sign" creates a sense of intimacy between the two lovers, as if the words on the page become tangible expressions of love.
The final lines, "And darling then, I'll read again right from the start, Love letters straight from your heart" accentuate the idea that the written words have become deeply meaningful, perhaps even more so than any spoken communication. The song's overall theme is that love can endure even when physically apart, and that love letters serve as a tangible reminder of that connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Love letters straight from your heart
Written expressions of love emanating directly from your core
Keep us so near while apart
Maintaining a close connection despite physical distance
I'm not alone in the night
Feeling comforted and connected during solitary moments
When I can have all the love you write
Receiving and embracing the affection conveyed in written form
I'll memorize every line
Committing the words to memory as a cherished keepsake
And I'll kiss the name that you sign
Lovingly bestowing affection upon the name written at the end of the letter
And darling then
After experiencing these emotions and taking in the written words
I'll read again right from the start
Going back to the beginning to relive those precious moments
Love letters straight from your heart
Written expressions of love emanating directly from your core
Writer(s): Edward Heyman, Victor Young
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.