In 1957 while still in high school, Tillotson was making records and performing on stage; as a student at the University of Florida, he had his own musical variety show on regional television. Following graduation in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Communications, he signed with Cadence Records and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. In 1960, he recorded his first hit, a composition entitled "Poetry in Motion" (written by Anthony/Kaufman), that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
A "crossover" artist, several of Tillotson's songs were successful on both the country music charts and pop charts. He earned a Grammy Award nomination for another of his own compositions, "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin," and also for the song "Heartaches by the Number," nominated for Best Vocal Performance of 1965. He also appeared in the 1963 film "Just for Fun" and sang the theme song for the 1965 Sally Field television comedy "Gidget".
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Tillotson has recorded 26 singles that made it onto Billboard's charts, and performed at venues across the United States and other places around the globe.
He was featured in the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield, Jack E. Leonard, Phyllis Diller, Brian Donlevy and Jordan Christopher & the Wild Ones. This film was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (#46).
Just One Time
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh how it'd ease my troubled mind
If I could hold you just one time
And then pretend that you're still mine
Lips that used to thrill me so
They now thrill someone else I know
Gone is the love that once was mine
Oh oh oh I miss you so oh I need you so
I, I, I'd give this heart of mine
If I could see you just one time
Wish I could relive just one time
Turn back the pages and there I'd find
That same old love that once was mine
Wish I could see you just one time
Oh oh oh I miss you so
If I could see you just one time
If I could see you just one time
The lyrics of Johnny Tillotson's song "Just One Time" express the longing and nostalgia of a person who yearns to see their lost love again. They convey the desire to ease the troubled mind by having one more encounter with the person they still hold dear.
The opening lines, "If I could see you just one time, Oh how it'd ease my troubled mind," reveal a deep longing for a reunion. The person wishes to hold their lost love for just a moment, pretending that they are still together. The lyrics imply that the relationship has ended and the other person is now with someone else, causing the singer's heartache.
The second verse highlights the nostalgia and the bitterness of loss. The lips that used to thrill the singer now belong to someone else. The lyrics express the pain of losing the love that was once theirs and the strong desire to revisit that love just one more time. The repeated phrase, "Wish I could see you just one time," emphasizes the singer's longing.
The emotions continue in the bridge, as the singer confesses missing and needing their lost love. They express their willingness to give their heart if it means having the opportunity to see their lost love again, even just for a single time.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could see you just one time
If I had the chance to see you again, even just once
Oh how it'd ease my troubled mind
It would bring relief and comfort to my troubled thoughts
If I could hold you just one time
If I could embrace you for a moment
And then pretend that you're still mine
And imagine that we are still together
Lips that used to thrill me so
The same lips that used to excite and thrill me
They now thrill someone else I know
Now they bring joy and excitement to someone else that I am aware of
Gone is the love that once was mine
The love that used to belong to me is now gone
Wish I could see you just one time
I truly desire to see you again, even just once
Oh oh oh I miss you so oh I need you so
Oh, I deeply miss you and I strongly need you
I, I, I'd give this heart of mine
I would willingly give my heart
If I could see you just one time
If I had the opportunity to see you again, even just once
Wish I could relive just one time
I long to experience again, even just once
Turn back the pages and there I'd find
If I could go back in time, I would find
That same old love that once was mine
The love that used to be mine, just as it was before
Wish I could see you just one time
I truly wish I could see you again, even just once
Oh oh oh I miss you so
Oh, I deeply miss you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinevicker9017
Great johnny u still have that great voice ❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
@marieholt690
Just one time. Miss you so More than words can say.
How do you stop loving someone You have loved completely your entire life.
@cheryldaniels5467
I like the guy singing. Such a pleasant man.
@margaretmcdaniel5891
Love, love this song. Kinda loved the 🎸 guitar man also.
@patriciacoxson3180
Hope to see you here in Amarillo Texas hee haw 😀 😜
@nilanisiriwardena5019
Thank you Johnny . I love every single song that you have sung. Such a beautiful voice. God Bless. Love, Nilani. Sri Lanka.
@patriciacoxson3180
I love my favorite Johnny Tillotson 💓 💗 💕 love every songs 🎵 ❤ hope you are doing well 😊 ❤
@marieholt690
I'd give anything to be able to see you just one more Time.!
@betsyheimbuch
The young man with guitar looks like Johnny's son. He has the same eyes & his hair looks like Johnny's when younger.
@marieholt690
Just one time