In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Glenocky on drums and John McCoy (ex-zzebra) on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in 1978, although they could only get a record deal in Japan. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as THE JAPANESE ALBUM.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Glenocky by Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a heavy metal direction. This lineup's first album was released as MR. UNIVERSE and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe. At Christmas Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, but Blackmore did make a "legendary" guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the successful GLORY ROAD album with the limited edition "free" LP for gillan fans only. However the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite tours.
By 1981 the band members were becoming disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased pay, and after the FUTURE SHOCK album tour, Torme walked out just before the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops. He was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers and this line up releaed the live/studio combi double album DOUBLE TROUBLE at the end of the year. In 1982 final album MAGIC followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever-pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords. He also received and accepted an offer to replace Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath. After the Magic tour Ian Gillan dissolved the band to the incredulity of the other members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remained into the 21st century.
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, beginning with Gillan Tapes, Vol. 1, and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band.
If I Sing Softly
Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alive and glistening
What are you doing to me
You've got a hold on me
The smile in your eye
Your breath and your sigh
What are you doing to me
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Your body so near
The joy and the fear
Soon we shall be as one
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
The lyrics to Gillan's song "If I Sing Softly" describe the intensity of desire and longing for a loved one. The first two lines of the song, "The touch of your skin/ Alive and glistening," evoke a feeling of desire and attraction. The singer is captivated by the physical presence of the person they love and is enticed by their touch. The chorus of the song, "I want to be beside you/ I want to be inside you/ How can I wait much longer/ My love is growing stronger," reinforces the sense of urgency and desire.
Throughout the song, the singer creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability with lines such as "If I sing softly to you." The imagery in the song is sensory and tactile, from "smile in your eye" to "breath and your sigh" to "your body so near." The final verse of the song, "Soon we shall be as one," suggests a physical and emotional union between the singer and the object of their desire.
Overall, "If I Sing Softly" is a romantic and passionately descriptive song about longing for a loved one and the desire to be physically and emotionally connected with them.
Line by Line Meaning
The touch of your skin
The feeling of touching your skin is sensational and it's making me feel alive
Alive and glistening
It's a beautiful feeling to be alive and close to you
What are you doing to me
Your presence is overwhelming and I can't help but feel this way about you
You've got a hold on me
Your love is powerful and I can't resist the grip you have on me
The smile in your eye
I can see the joy in your eyes and it's contagious
Your breath and your sigh
Your every breath and sigh is captivating and I can't help but feel drawn to you
When will you come to me
I can't wait to have you close to me in every possible way
I want to be beside you
Being near you is all I want and I want to share every moment with you
I want to be inside you
I want to feel as close and connected to you as possible
How can I wait much longer
The desire to be with you is too much to bear and I can't wait any longer
My love is growing stronger
My love for you is increasing every day and it's getting harder to contain
Will you love me
Do you feel the same way I do? Do you love me too?
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you be with me forever? Will you love me in every possible way?
Will you hold me and love me
I need your love and affection more than anything in this world
I need you, we must be together
I can't imagine life without you and we need to be together no matter what
Will you stay here forever
I want you to be with me for eternity and never leave my side
If I sing softly to you
If I express my love for you in a gentle and calming way, will you feel it too?
Your body so near
Feeling you close to me is everything I need to feel safe and loved
The joy and the fear
Being with you brings both happiness and fear of losing you
Soon we shall be as one
We will become one in every possible way and nothing will ever come between us
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
johnny zell
The touch of your skin
Alive and glistening
What are you doing to me
You've got a hold on me
The smile in your eye
Your breath and your sigh
What are you doing to me
When will you come to me
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Your body so near
The joy and the fear
Soon we shall be as one
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
rockrabbitt
The touch of your skin
Alive and glistening
What are you doing to me
You've got a hold on me
The smile in your eye
Your breath and your sigh
What are you doing to me
When will you come to me
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Your body so near
The joy and the fear
Soon we shall be as one
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
johnny zell
The touch of your skin
Alive and glistening
What are you doing to me
You've got a hold on me
The smile in your eye
Your breath and your sigh
What are you doing to me
When will you come to me
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Your body so near
The joy and the fear
Soon we shall be as one
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Наталья Пивоварова
Волшебный голос неподражаемого, любимейшего Гиллана!
ольга к.
Голос просто сказочно красив! Фантастика!
Adrian Cooke
Still one of my favourite songs after 37 years
johnny zell
The touch of your skin
Alive and glistening
What are you doing to me
You've got a hold on me
The smile in your eye
Your breath and your sigh
What are you doing to me
When will you come to me
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Your body so near
The joy and the fear
Soon we shall be as one
I want to be beside you
I want to be inside you
How can I wait much longer
My love is growing stronger
Will you love me
Baby will you stay with me, love me
Will you hold me and love me
I need you, we must be together
Will you stay here forever
If I sing softly to you
Eva Rose
Beautiful song ❤
Tony TD
In my opinion, very very under rated song!
Goran Simić
Tony TD najbolji pjevac svih vremena
Sue J
Amazing song! Really surprised there's not more likes.
Julsol Morris Solano Cruz
Esta es una linda interpretación de Ian Gillan, y demuestea la versatilidad de su poderoza voz, por eso es el mejor cantante de hard rock de todos los tiempos....
strela1
Bought this album when I was 12, now I'm 43. You will listen the music you love all your life.