McLean's grandfather and father, both also named Donald McLean, had roots originating in Scotland. The Buccis, the family of McLean's mother, Elizabeth, came from Abruzzo in central Italy. They left Italy and settled in Port Chester, New York at the end of the 19th century. He has other extended family in Los Angeles and Boston. Though some of his early musical influences included Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly, as a teenager, McLean became interested in folk music, particularly the Weavers' 1955 recording At Carnegie Hall. He often missed long periods of school because of childhood asthma, particularly music lessons, and although McLean slipped back in his studies, his love of music was allowed to flourish. By age 16, he had bought his first guitar and began making contacts in the music business, becoming friends with the folk singers Erik Darling and Fred Hellerman of the Weavers.
McLean recorded Tapestry in 1969 in Berkeley, California during the student riots. After being rejected 72 times by labels, the album was released by Mediarts, a label that had not existed when he first started to look for a label. He worked on the album for a couple of years before putting it out. It attracted good reviews but little notice outside the folk community, though on the Easy Listening chart "Castles in the Air" was a success, and in 1973 "And I Love You So" became a number 1 Adult Contemporary hit for Perry Como.
McLean's major break came when Mediarts was taken over by United Artists Records, thus securing the promotion of a major label for his second album, American Pie. The album launched two number one hits in the title song and "Vincent". American Pie's success made McLean an international star and piqued interest in his first album, which charted more than two years after its initial release.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In January 2018, BMI certified that "American Pie" and "Vincent" had reached five million and three million airplays respectively.
His composition "And I Love You So" has been sung by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others, and in 2000, Madonna had a hit with a rendition of "American Pie". His other hit singles include "Vincent" (US #12, UK #1 in 1972), "Dreidel" (US #21 in 1972), a rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying" (US #5, UK #1 in 1980), a rendition of the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" (US #23 in 1980), and "Wonderful Baby" (US AC #1 in 1975).
It Had to Be You
Don McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why must I just give you your way?
Why do I sigh?
Why do I try to forget?
It must have been that something lovers call "Fate"
Kept on saying I had to wait
I saw them all
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me be blue
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss, but they wouldn't do
For nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you
The lyrics of Don McLean's song "It Had to Be You" are a declaration of love to someone who has become the center of someone's world. The verses talk about the puzzling attraction that someone feels towards this person. The questions asked in the first verse are rhetorical, and they express the doubt that comes with being infatuated with someone who seems to have so much power over someone else. The chorus explains that the connection with this person was inevitable, as if it were written in the stars. The line "it must have been that something lovers call 'fate'" suggests that this love story is meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do I do just as you say?
I conform to your wishes because I value our relationship and want to keep it intact.
Why must I just give you your way?
I concede to your desires because I understand the importance of compromise in a successful partnership.
Why do I sigh?
I express a mix of fulfillment and yearning in my thoughts of you and our future.
Why do I try to forget?
I struggle to erase the depth of my emotions for you, despite it being occasionally overwhelming.
It must have been that something lovers call "Fate"
There are universal forces that have resulted in our romantic connection and cannot be attributed to chance.
Kept on saying I had to wait
I encountered resistance and impatience in my search for an ideal partner before ultimately discovering you.
I saw them all
I encountered various potential matches, but none clicked the way that you did.
Just couldn't fall till we met
For a time, I was hesitant to fully embrace love until we crossed paths and found each other.
It had to be you, it had to be you
Out of all the prospects I considered, it was you who was meant to complete me.
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
My journey to find love was long and winding, but you ultimately fulfilled everything I was seeking.
Could make me be true, could make me be blue
You bring out the best in me, and also have the potential to make me feel sorrow and heartache.
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you
I am so enamored by you that even in moments of sadness or longing, my devotion to you keeps me fulfilled and hopeful.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Other romantic prospects might be perfectly kind and pleasant, but still not fit me as well as you do.
Might never be cross or try to be boss, but they wouldn't do
Although others might seem easier to be with in certain ways, they could not compare to the depth and authenticity of my connection with you.
For nobody else gave me a thrill
I have never felt the same level of excitement and joy with anyone else as I do with you.
With all your faults, I love you still
Despite any imperfections you may have, my love for you persists and only grows stronger.
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you
You are the perfect match for me, and I am grateful that fate brought us together.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ISHAM JONES, GUS KAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dale Johnson
Sort of hard to believe but this is maybe the best rendition of "It Had to Be You" ever done. If "Vincent" weren't enough.
Fernando York
Don - Congratulation, great performance !
Dan Friel
Beautiful song, performance, & Album, its in my top 10, nice post thanks.