By 1975, Summer had been living in Germany for eight years and had participated in several musical theatre shows. She had also released an album in Europe entitled Lady of the Night, written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and produced by Bellotte, which had given her a couple of hit singles. She was still a complete unknown in her home country when she suggested the lyric "Love to Love You Baby" to Moroder in 1975. He turned the lyric into a full disco song and asked Summer to record it. The full lyrics were somewhat explicit and at first Summer said she would only record it as a demo to give to someone else. However her erotic moans and groans impressed Moroder so much that he persuaded her to release it as her own song, and "Love to Love You" became a moderate hit in the Netherlands.
A tape of the song was sent to Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart in the U.S. and he played it at a party at his home. He was so impressed with the track that he continued to play it over and over all night. He later contacted Moroder and suggested that he make the track longer - possibly as long as twenty minutes. Again Summer had reservations, and was not even sure of all the lyrics, so imagined herself as an actress (namely Marilyn Monroe) playing the part of someone in sexual ecstasy. The studio lights were dimmed so that Summer was more or less in complete darkness as she lay on the floor. The final recording lasted over sixteen minutes, and contained the sexiest "simulated" orgasms ever found on vinyl; according to the BBC, it contained 23 "orgasms". It was also at this point that the song was renamed "Love to Love You Baby." The song took up the entire first side of the album of the same name, and was also released as a 12" single. Edited versions were also found on 7" vinyl, and the song became an international disco smash. Released in December 1975, it became Summer's first U.S. top 40 hit, spending two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1976 and logged four weeks atop the Billboard U.S. disco chart, as well number three on the soul singles chart The song also charted highly on the UK Singles Chart upon its January 1976 release in the U.K., where it reached #4 despite the BBC's refusal to promote it. Summer would be named "the first lady of love," which labeled her with a sexually-oriented, fantasy image from which she would struggle to free herself.
Casablanca Records became responsible for the distribution of Summer's work in the U.S., and later in the majority of nations. President Neil Bogart was particularly keen for Summer to portray the image of a rich, powerful, sexy fantasy figure with which this song had labelled her. Upon Summer's relocation to the U.S., Bogart and his wife Joyce (who also became Summer's manager) would become close friends with Summer, but also begin to interfere with aspects of her personal as well as professional life. Summer eventually felt that she had no control over her life and suffered with depression and insomnia. She would later become a born-again Christian and leave disco, Casablanca and the Bogarts behind and file a lawsuit against them (which was eventually settled). It was at this time that Summer also made the decision to leave behind "Love to Love You Baby" forever. Some twenty-five years later, she would once again begin to perform a newly arranged version of the song in concert.
Love To Love You Baby
Donna Summer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
When you're laying so close to me
There's no place I'd rather you be than with me
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
Do it to me again and again
You put me in such a awful spin, in a spin
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
Lay your head down real close to me
Soothe my mind and set me free, set me free
Uh, love to love you baby
Uh, love to love you baby
Uh, love to love you baby
Uh, love to love you baby
Uh, love to love you baby
Uh, love to love you baby
When you're laying so close to me
There's no place I'd rather you be than with me
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
Do it to me again and again
You put me in such a awful spin, in a spin
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
I love to love you baby
The lyrics of "I Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer are a testament to the ecstasy and pleasure of passionate love. The repetition of the chorus "I love to love you baby" creates a hypnotic and sensual energy throughout the song, supported by a disco beat that encourages the listener to dance.
The lyrics describe the physical and emotional intensity of being close to a lover, with the line "When you're laying so close to me, there's no place I'd rather you be than with me" evoking a sense of exclusivity and desire. The singer is consumed by their love for their partner, with the line "Do it to me again and again, you put me in such an awful spin" implying that they are willing to submit to their partner's passion repeatedly.
The lyrics also suggest a desire for emotional connection, with the line "Lay your head down real close to me, soothe my mind and set me free" portraying the singer as seeking solace and comfort in their lover's embrace. Overall, the lyrics to "I Love to Love You Baby" embody the hedonistic and transcendent properties of love, capturing the essence of pure pleasure and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I love to love you baby
I am infatuated with you and derive great pleasure from loving you.
When you're laying so close to me
Being physically close to you is the most comfortable and desirable situation.
There's no place I'd rather you be than with me
Having you by my side is the best place you could be in the world.
Do it to me again and again
I want you to repeat the actions that bring me pleasure.
You put me in such an awful spin, in a spin
You throw me into a state of euphoria and emotional frenzy.
Lay your head down real close to me
Rest your head near me and provide me with comfort and security.
Soothe my mind and set me free, set me free
Help me ease my worries and allow myself to relax and feel liberated.
Uh, love to love you baby
I cannot express how much I desire you and enjoy loving you.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oirad1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzsLsAP8uK0
Love To Love You Baby new audio HQ! New photo!!
@joseluismoralesoliva1689
Muy buen recuerdo
@georgedavis2130
In the 70s they did not care about extending a song ,because most of the songs like this one were for disco clubs and skating rings and coke heads.
@monjurulhasanbhuiya6885
my first serious song !
@rolandocruz4336
The best retro
@lawrencejelsma8118
Luckily for me I already taped the 17 minute club erotic version in 1975 on Casette tape. YouTube strike policies are in effect so I know why you collaged 17 minutes of cleaning the song up and removed what even Donna Summer thought was an unauthorized "negative meaning she didn't sign off for" in light of her future many other songs and albums more clean (including Bad Girls)!
@robertlupo4458
I am 61 years old, and I can honestly say that this is the greatest disco song ever made, and there is not a single foul word in it. There is no other song that comes close. It was a great time for all of us disco freaks. Nothing will ever compare.
@Apollo_Blaze
You are right...Nothing will Ever compare.
@marthawillis7120
Ditto that. She is my favorite singer
@k-leb4671
There may be no foul words but there sure is some foul moaning I'll you what.