After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" (#19) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the U.S. chart.
However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career. The Belmonts also continued to release records, but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records, and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album.
I Need Someone
Dion & The Belmonts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(When I need love)
(I just close my eyes and I'm with you)
(You're only a heartbeat away)
When I need you
I just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you
When I need love
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day
Miles and miles of empty space in between us
A telephone can't take the place of your smile
Ooh, but you know I won't be traveling forever
It's cold out but hold out and do like I do
When I need you
I just close my eyes and I'm with you
And all that I so want to give you, baby
It's only a heartbeat away
It's not easy when the road is your driver
Honey, that's a heavy load that we bear
But you know I won't be traveling a lifetime
It's cold out but hold out and do like I do
When I need love
I hold out my hands and I touch love
And I never knew, oh, never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day
Oh, when I need you
I just close my eyes and I'm with you (I just close my eyes)
And all that I so want to give you
It's only a heart beat away
When I need you
I just close my eyes and I'm with you (when I need)
All that I so want to give you
It's only a heartbeat away
The lyrics of Dion & The Belmonts's song "I Need Someone" express the strong longing and yearning for love and companionship. The singer finds solace and comfort in the thought of being with their loved one, even if they are physically apart. The lyrics convey the idea that love transcends distance and can bring two souls together, bridging the empty space and loneliness.
The lines "When I need you, I just close my eyes and I'm with you" suggest that the singer relies on their imagination and memories to feel the presence of their loved one. The imagery of closing their eyes symbolizes shutting out the physical world and entering a space where their loved one is just a heartbeat away. It indicates that their connection is deep and strong, and they can summon the comfort and love they need simply by closing their eyes and focusing on their feelings.
The lyrics also touch upon the challenges of being apart. The mention of a telephone not being able to replace a smile implies that physical distance can never fully substitute the warmth and intimacy of being together. However, the singer acknowledges that their travels may be temporary, expressing hope that the loneliness will eventually be overcome. The resilience and determination to endure the hardships of separation are highlighted with the line "It's cold out but hold out and do like I do."
Line by Line Meaning
(When I need you)
In times when I require your presence and support
(When I need love)
When my heart yearns for love and affection
(I just close my eyes and I'm with you)
I can mentally transport myself to be by your side
(You're only a heartbeat away)
Your proximity to me feels incredibly close and accessible
When I need you
During moments of longing for your companionship
I just close my eyes and I'm with you
By simply closing my eyes, I can create the illusion of being with you
And all that I so want to give you
Everything I desire to offer you
It's only a heart beat away
It is just a matter of being close emotionally and physically
When I need love
When my soul craves affection and tenderness
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I reach out and experience the embrace of love
I never knew there was so much love
I was unaware of the abundance of love that exists
Keeping me warm night and day
Providing me with comfort and solace constantly
Miles and miles of empty space in between us
There is a vast physical distance separating us
A telephone can't take the place of your smile
A phone call cannot replicate the joy brought by your smile
Ooh, but you know I won't be traveling forever
However, be aware that I won't be on this journey indefinitely
It's cold out but hold out and do like I do
Despite the challenging circumstances, persevere and follow my example
It's not easy when the road is your driver
It is difficult when the journey itself is in control
Honey, that's a heavy load that we bear
Darling, it's a burdensome weight we carry together
But you know I won't be traveling a lifetime
Yet you must understand that I won't be traveling forever
Oh, when I need you
Oh, when I am in need of you
I just close my eyes and I'm with you (I just close my eyes)
Merely shutting my eyes enables me to be in your presence
And all that I so want to give you
All the love and affection I deeply desire to offer you
It's only a heartbeat away
The distance between us is as close as a heartbeat
When I need you
At times when I require your presence
I just close my eyes and I'm with you (when I need)
By merely closing my eyes, I can bring myself to be with you in spirit
All that I so want to give you
All the love and affection I deeply desire to present to you
It's only a heartbeat away
It is just a matter of being emotionally and physically connected
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Albert Hammond, Carole Bayer Sager
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind