There are multiple artists with this name:
1. A German composer
2. A … Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1. A German composer
2. A British pop singer

1. Engelbert Humperdinck (German pronunciation: [ˈɛŋl̩bɛʁt ˈhʊmpɐdɪŋk]) (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

2. Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey; 2 May 1936) is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)" and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" ("The Last Waltz with You").
Humperdinck represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

When You Say Nothing At All
Engelbert Humperdinck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall

Now you say it best, when you say nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near you drown out the crowd
Old Mister Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best, when you say nothing at all

Overall Meaning

Engelbert Humperdinck's song "When You Say Nothing At All" describes how love can be expressed without words. The singer marvels at how their significant other can speak to their heart without saying anything at all, and how their presence can light up the darkness. The singer acknowledges that they could never adequately explain the emotions they feel when their partner is silent. It's as if the silence itself is a language that only the two of them can understand.

The second stanza reinforces this idea, stating that the singer can hear people talking all day long, but their partner's presence drowns out the noise. The singer notes that words cannot define the emotion shared between them; it's an unspoken truth that lies in the way their partner looks at them and the touch of their hand. The chorus reinforces the message that their silence communicates far more than words ever could; their love and commitment to each other are expressed best through their nonverbal communication.

This song speaks to the idea that sometimes words get in the way of expressing emotions. There's something beautiful about being able to communicate with someone without having to say a word. When the love between two people is so strong and deep, they can communicate without ever speaking a single word.

Line by Line Meaning

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
You have a special way of communicating with me that has a direct connection to my emotions and feelings.

Without saying a word you can light up the dark
You have a way of making everything feel bright and positive, even when you don't say anything at all.

Try as I may I could never explain
I struggle to put into words the powerful emotions that you evoke in me, no matter how hard I try.

What I hear when you don't say a thing
Even when you're silent, I hear so much from you - your love, your support, and your presence.

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
I'm bombarded by noise and meaningless chatter all around me throughout the day.

But when you hold me near you drown out the crowd
When I'm with you, everything else fades away and your presence and love fill up my entire world.

Old Mister Webster could never define
Even a dictionary can't capture the depth and complexity of the unspoken communication between us.

What's being said between your heart and mine
The connection between us is so strong that even without words, our hearts understand each other perfectly.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
Your smile is a clear signal that you care about me and want me in your life.

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
I can see in your eyes that you're deeply committed to our relationship and will always be by my side.

A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Your touch is reassuring and reminds me that I can always depend on you to support me and help me through difficult times.

Now you say it best, when you say nothing at all
I don't need words when I'm with you - your actions and presence speak volumes, and that's all I need to feel loved and supported.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Donald Alan Schlitz, Paul Overstreet

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS