Unchained Melody
Frank Ifield Lyrics
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My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
God speed your love
To me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea
To the sea
To the open arms
Of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home
Wait for me
Oh my love
My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love
To me
The lyrics to Frank Ifield's "Unchained Melody" express a deep longing for the touch of a loved one after being apart for what feels like an eternity. The opening lines, "Oh my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time," set the stage for the rest of the song, emphasizing the intense desire for physical connection with a significant other.
As the song progresses, Ifield reflects on the passage of time and its power to both heal and harm. "And time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much," he sings, acknowledging time's ability to create distance and change, yet simultaneously recognizing its potential to foster love and longing. He repeats the refrain, "Are you still mine? I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me," underscoring the persistent need and yearning for their partner's presence.
The imagery of "lonely rivers" flowing to the sea and crying "wait for me" further emphasizes the melancholic loneliness and longing for a loved one. Ultimately, the song speaks to the universal human experience of love and desire, as well as the pain and hope that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my love
Addressed to the singer's beloved
My darling
Term of endearment for the singer's beloved
I've hungered for your touch
The singer has craved physical contact with their beloved
A long lonely time
The singer has been without their beloved for an extended period, causing loneliness
And time goes by so slowly
Time seems to pass more slowly when the singer is without their beloved
And time can do so much
The prolonged absence of the singer's beloved can have a significant impact on their well-being
Are you still mine?
Questioning if the singer's beloved still belongs to them
I need your love
The singer needs the love of their beloved to feel whole and complete
God speed your love
Wishing their beloved's love would come to them quickly
To me
To the singer
Lonely rivers flow
The rivers represent the emotional state of the singer
To the sea
The destination of the rivers represents the inevitable flow of emotions to a larger, more significant entity
To the open arms
Suggests that the sea or larger entity is welcoming and accepting of the emotions
Of the sea
Refers to the welcoming and accepting entity
Lonely rivers sigh
The singer's emotional state is represented by the sound of the sighing rivers
"Wait for me, wait for me"
The singer begs for time and patience from their beloved
I'll be coming home
The singer reassures their beloved that they will be returning to them
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind