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).
Without You
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now without you, I've lost everything
And I know, know it's true that I-I must go throu-ou-gh
All my life (all my life) all my life (all my life)
Wi-ithout yo-ou-ou (wi-ithout you)
No one to talk to when I'm alone
No one to call me, call me her own
All my life (all my life) all my life (all my life)
Wi-ithout yo-ou-ou (wi-ithout you)
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Maybe tomorrow
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Maybe in time
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
I'll find an angel
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Who wants to be mine
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Someone who needs me
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Like I'm needing you
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum)
Someone to love me and to always be true
But, oh my darling (oh-oh oh yes)
I love you still (he loves you still)
I dream about you (oh-oh oh yes)
And I always will (he always will)
And I know, know it's true that I-I must go throu-ou-gh
All my life (all my life) all my life (all my life)
Wi-ithout you (wi-ithout you)
The lyrics of Johnny Tillotson's song 'Without You' express the pain of losing a love that gave his life meaning and joy. The first verse suggests that the person he loved brought immense happiness and music to his life. However, now that this person is not with him, he feels that he has lost everything. He acknowledges the challenge of coming to terms with a life in which an important and loved person is absent. The repetition of 'All my life' reflects just how long and difficult this process will be.
The second verse continues this emotional journey, highlighting how the absence of this person affects even the most mundane aspects of his day-to-day life. There is no one to talk or share life with, nor a person to whom he can claim ownership. In each line of the verse, the repetition of the phrase 'No one' emphasizes the complete emptiness he is experiencing. The pain of going through life without this person is unavoidable. However, Tillotson remains hopeful that maybe tomorrow or someday in the future, he will find someone who will fill this void and be an angel to him. Although he loves someone else, he still dreams about his former love, and the pain of the loss will always be with him.
Line by Line Meaning
You made me happy, you made me sing
You brought joy and happiness to my life
But now without you, I've lost everything
Without you, my life is empty and I feel lost
And I know, know it's true that I-I must go throu-ou-gh
I accept the fact that I must endure the pain of living without you
All my life (all my life) all my life (all my life)
For the rest of my life
Wi-ithout yo-ou-ou (wi-ithout you)
Without your presence
No one to talk to when I'm alone
When I am by myself, I have nobody to talk to
No one to call me, call me her own
There is nobody to spend time with or love me
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Maybe tomorrow
Perhaps things will be better in the future
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Maybe in time
Maybe with patience and perseverance
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) I'll find an angel
I will find someone special
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Who wants to be mine
Who will love me and want to be with me
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Someone who needs me
Someone who values me and relies on me
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Like I'm needing you
Like I need you in my life
(dum-dumb-dumb-dum) Someone to love me and to always be true
Someone to love me unconditionally and be honest with me
But, oh my darling (oh-oh oh yes)
Despite everything
I love you still (he loves you still)
I still have feelings of love for you
I dream about you (oh-oh oh yes)
You are in my thoughts and dreams
And I always will (he always will)
I will always cherish the memories of us
Wi-ithout you (wi-ithout you)
Without you in my life
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: JOHNNY TILLOTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
The "dreamboat"
with the dreamiest
voice among all
his rivals who
lucked out into getting
the creme-de-la-
creme of the dreamiest break-up and teen angst
songs. (The great
paradox is he was
all the while having to fight all
the girls off with
a stick while making a fortune
singing songs from the perspective of a
chump loser who
could never get the gal, or ended
up losing her if he
ever did!!)
Mary Pritchett
This is absolutely the best song I ever heard him sing..don't get me wrong he's a great artist but this record I could replay over and over.
Talltrees84
Doing so right now. Heard in on SIRIS FX RADIO and knew I wanted more.
Darryl Evans
One of the best songs Johnny Tillotson ever made this did not get enough air play great song Johnny Tillotson a living legend out of Jacksonville Florida.
Charles Ramos
Music doesn’t get any better than this!!
Peter Picallo
Johnny wrote this...classic!
Darryl Evans
Another great song from Johnny Tillotson
Richard Ortiz
2021
saca1951
Great song by Johnny, brings back to many memories...
Pat Melton
I wonder how many times I played this record because it was so much like what I was going through. Some of these feelings never die.
San Dee
@Pat Melton แปล