Darren began his career as a teen idol. This encompassed roles in films, mo… Read Full Bio ↴Darren began his career as a teen idol. This encompassed roles in films, most notably his role as Moondoggie in Gidget in 1959, as well as a string of pop hits for Colpix Records, the biggest of which was "Goodbye Cruel World" (#3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961). He is also featured in one of the Scopitone series of pop music video jukebox films ("Because You're Mine").

Darren's role in the gritty 1961 World War II film The Guns of Navarone was an attempt to break out of his teen image. He then achieved success co-starring as impulsive scientist and adventurer Tony Newman in the science fiction television series, The Time Tunnel (1966-67).

In the 1970s, Darren appeared as a celebrity panelist on Match Game.

Later, Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police drama T.J. Hooker from 1983-1986. Subsequently he worked as a director on many action-based television series, including Hunter, The A-Team, and Nowhere Man, as well as dramas such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place.

In 1998 he achieved renewed popularity as a singer through his appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role of holographic crooner and advice-giver Vic Fontaine; many of his performances on the show were recorded for the album This One's From the Heart (1999). The album showed Darren, a close friend of the late Frank Sinatra, comfortably singing in the Sinatra style; the 2001 follow-up Because of You showed similar inspiration from Tony Bennett.

Some animation fans may know him as the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the 1964 animated film, Hey There, it's Yogi Bear, on the song "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a". Prior to that, he was the singing and speaking voice of "Jimmy Darrock" on an episode of The Flintstones.

Darren has been married twice. His first wife was Gloria Terlitsky with whom he has one son, Jim Moret, who formerly worked as a CNN reporter. His second wife is Evy Norlund, with whom he has two sons.

You'd Better Love Me
James Darren Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You'd better love me while you may
Tomorrow I may fly away
I want your gentle touch
Your continental touch
That elemental touch
And You want me too
And I know that you do
You'd better love me while I'm here

I have been known to disappear
So, don't let this miracle melt away
The clock ticks fast above me
If you think fondly of me
You'd better love me while you may

You'd better love me while you may
Tomorrow I may fly away
I want your gentle touch
Your continental touch
That elemental touch
And You want me too
And I know that you do
You'd better love me while I'm here
I have been known to disappear
So, don't let this miracle melt away
The clock ticks fast above me
If you think fondly of me
You'd better love me

You'd better love me
You'd better love me while you may

Overall Meaning

In "You'd Better Love Me," James Darren sings about the importance of embracing love while it is still present. The opening lines set up the song's main message, expressing the need to appreciate love while it still exists. The second line, "Tomorrow I may fly away," infers the possibility of the end of the relationship. The following lines explain that the singer wants his partner's love and touch, with "Your continental touch" and "That elemental touch" both being metaphors for his partner's love.

The song urges the partner to love him as much as he loves them, with repeated lines emphasizing the urgency of loving while there is still time. The lyrics state that the singer is known to disappear, inferring that the relationship is not permanent unless they cherish it. The clock ticking fast above the singer is a metaphor for time running out, heightening the urgency for the partner to love while there is still time.

In summary, the song’s message is that time is fleeting, and it’s essential to seize the moment by loving and cherishing someone while they are still present.

Line by Line Meaning

You'd better love me while you may
I am warning you to cherish our time together because I may not be around in the future.

Tomorrow I may fly away
I may leave or not be around tomorrow, so you should take advantage of our time together now.

I want your gentle touch
I desire your soft and tender touch.

Your continental touch
I crave your sophisticated and refined touch.

That elemental touch
I need your natural, basic touch.

And You want me too
You desire me just as much as I desire you.

And I know that you do
I am aware of your affection for me.

You'd better love me while I'm here
You should appreciate and cherish our time together because I may not be around for long.

I have been known to disappear
I have a history of leaving and not staying in one place for too long.

So, don't let this miracle melt away
Don't let this wonderful opportunity slip away or come to an end.

The clock ticks fast above me
Time is passing quickly and there is not much time to waste.