'Congratulations' was a global hit as it became a much bigger hit than 'La, La, La', which beat Cliff in the 1968 Eurovision song contest. Shortly after 'Congratulations', which was one of his solo efforts, Cliff recorded his last single with The Shadows. Again in 1973, with 'Power to All Our Friends', he entered the Eurovision song contest--this time reaching 3rd place.
The most sold artist in British Pop history - with over 40 top hits.
Worked with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989 and the single "I Just Don't Have The Heart".
Sixty appearances at Wembley, plus sellout tour to celebrate 50 years in the business.
First hit: Move It, 1958, first no. 1: Living Doll
As big as he is in the UK, he has only had 3 Top 10 hits in the USA with the biggest still being his breakthrough 1976 single "Devil Woman" which made it all the way to #6.
Has also worked with Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Julian Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Phil Everly, Janet Jackson, Sheila Walsh, Van Morrison, and Olivia Newton-John.
Outsider
Cliff Richard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While I'm all alone and blue
Someone else would kiss and hold you tight
Just the way I used to do
I used to be your love
And now I'm your used to be
Outsider, that's me
To our favorite melody
And the tender words you speak to him
Will be words you spoke to me
Once I was in your heart
Now someone else holds the key
Outsider that's me
I want you so much, so much
I can look you can look, but musn't touch
I keep waiting for the phone to ring
But I know it's all in vain
When you left me you took everything
But the memories and the pain
I used to be your love
Cliff Richard's song, Outsider, laments the feeling of being an outsider, someone who is on the fringes of a relationship. The song begins with the singer, in a melancholic voice, acknowledging that his former lover is now with someone else. The lyrics express his sense of loneliness and longing, as he watches another man take his place in her life. The use of the phrase "Someone else is in your arms tonight" highlights the physical closeness his ex-lover now shares with someone else, while he is left alone, feeling rejected and heartbroken.
The chorus reveals the depth of the singer's feeling of being an outsider. He describes how he has gone from being the one who was loved, to being the "used to be". This statement highlights his sense of being forgotten, displaced and replaced by someone else, and he feels like he no longer belongs. The singer goes on to describe how the two of them used to share passions, and dance to their favorite melody, something she now shares with someone else. The verse, "Once I was in your heart, now someone else holds the key," shows that the singer has been locked out of the love he once had, and this disconnection causes him immense pain.
The final verse speaks to the longing the singer has for his former lover. He continues to hold on to the hope that she will call him, but at the same time he knows that it is in vain. He is left with nothing but the memories and the pain of their lost love. The singer's final appeal "I want you so much, so much, I can look you can look, but musn't touch" expresses his desperation and his inability to connect, and the fact that he is an outsider in her life.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone else is in your arms tonight
The person singing is all alone and feeling sad because their ex-partner is with someone else.
While I'm all alone and blue
The person singing feels sad and lonely because they're not with their ex-partner.
Someone else would kiss and hold you tight
The person singing is imagining their ex-partner being affectionate with someone else.
Just the way I used to do
The person singing is imagining their ex-partner being affectionate with someone else in the same way they used to be with them.
I used to be your love
The person singing used to be in a romantic relationship with their ex-partner.
And now I'm your used to be
The person singing is no longer in a romantic relationship with their ex-partner.
Outsider, that's me
The person singing feels like an outsider because they're not with their ex-partner and they're not part of their life anymore.
You'll be dancing cheek to cheek with him
The person singing is imagining their ex-partner dancing with someone else.
To our favorite melody
The person singing and their ex-partner used to dance to this particular melody.
And the tender words you speak to him
The person singing is imagining their ex-partner saying affectionate things to someone else.
Will be words you spoke to me
The person singing is remembering the affectionate things their ex-partner used to say to them.
Once I was in your heart
The person singing used to hold a special place in their ex-partner's heart.
Now someone else holds the key
The person singing is imagining their ex-partner being in a romantic relationship with someone else.
Outsider that's me
The person singing feels like an outsider because they're not with their ex-partner and they're not part of their life anymore.
I want you so much, so much
The person singing still loves their ex-partner and wants to be with them.
I can look you can look, but musn't touch
The person singing can look at their ex-partner, but they know they can't have them back.
I keep waiting for the phone to ring
The person singing is waiting for their ex-partner to call them, but they know it's unlikely to happen.
But I know it's all in vain
The person singing knows that waiting for their ex-partner to call is pointless because it's unlikely to happen.
When you left me you took everything
The person singing feels like their ex-partner took everything from them when they ended their relationship.
But the memories and the pain
The person singing only has memories of their past relationship with their ex-partner, and the painful emotions associated with it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mohsin Taufiq
One of my most favorite songs when I was growing up! What a beautiful song!!
Lizandra Rodrigues
its a beautiful song..makes me remember my dad a lot.. he used to play it a lot wen I ws a kid😍😍
Reginald Sardinha
What fantastic backing music. Wont find such music nowadays
Tordy Boy
Great song from Sir Cliff with silky smooth vocals. This guy is a legend.
Seb Tay
One of my favorite songs when i was a young teenager... Lots of memories of the sweet 60s.... thanks for posting this lovable song....... Sebastian from Singapore 2016/0612
Sam Lee
I was a P5 boy when this song entered top 5 on radio popular hits chart, though I did not fully understand the lyrics, this was the 2nd Cliff’s song I heard other than ‘We Say Yeah’ in early 60. Lots of memories.
Evelyne Souchar
I love Cliff Richard singing these romantic songs very much with his his sweet voice.
Orlando Diola
So nostalgic. Love this song. It just popped up to mind & the Google helped. Thanks
Joe Dayton
Thanks Jelena. Great song by a living legend. Glad you enjoyed it.
Ai Ai Chip mamatarosan
If Im a girl, I fell in love with Cliff Richard..nice song..