Richman became enamored with the Velvet Underground while he was still in high school, and after graduating in 1969, he moved to New York City where he became personally acquainted with the band. Richman spent a couple of weeks sleeping on Velvets manager Steve Sesnick's sofa before moving into the Hotel Albert, a residence known for its poor conditions. After nine months in New York, Richman moved back to his native Boston and organized a band modeled after the Velvets. Christening themselves "the Modern Lovers," the group included Richman's childhood friend John Felice as guitarist, David Robinson on drums, and Rolfe Anderson on bass. The Modern Lovers played their first date in September 1970, barely a month after Richman's return to Boston.
In early 1971 Anderson and Felice departed; they were replaced by bassist Ernie Brooks, and keyboardist Jerry Harrison, completing the classic lineup of the Modern Lovers. This new configuration became very popular in the Boston area, and by the fall of 1971, enthusiastic word-of-mouth led to the Modern Lovers' first exposure to a major label when Stuart Love of Warner Bros. Records contacted them and organized the band's first multi-track session at Intermedia Studio in Boston. The demo produced from this session generated more attention from the industry, and soon A&M Records was interested in the band as well.
In April 1972, the Modern Lovers traveled to Los Angeles where they held two demo sessions; the first was produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale for Warner Bros. while the second was produced by Alan Mason for A&M. In June 1972 producer Kim Fowley also courted the band, traveling to Boston to produce some poor-quality demos that were later released in 1981 on an album misleadingly titled The Original Modern Lovers.
Despite their continued success as a live act, the Modern Lovers had a difficult time securing a record deal. Cale produced another session for the band in Los Angeles in September 1973, but nothing usable was recorded. Soon after, Fowley produced yet another session with the band, this time at Gold Star Studios with much better results than he'd had in Boston, but by this time Richman was pushing for a drastic, new direction. Richman wanted to scrap all of the tracks they had recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted that they record as they sounded now. These issues stymied efforts to complete a debut album, and, eventually, led to the band's breakup by the end of 1973.
Richman continued recording on his own, eventually moving to California in 1975 to begin working with Beserkley Records. While Richman never returned to the Velvets-inspired sound of the original Modern Lovers, the demo recordings made with that group eventually surfaced in various formats. The first of these releases came in 1976 when Beserkley compiled a posthumous LP from the first demo two sessions produced by Cale and Mason; issued on Beserkley's Home of the Hits subsidiary, the album was simply titled The Modern Lovers and included celebrated tracks such as "Roadrunner", "She Cracked", and "Pablo Picasso". Richman did not recognize this compilation as his "first album," preferring to recognize his debut as 1977's Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, an album pursuing the lighter, softer direction he had in mind with a completely different band. However, The Modern Lovers was given an enthusiastic, critical reception, with critic Ira Robbins hailing it as "one of the truly great art rock albums of all time," and it influenced numerous aspiring punk rock musicians on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Sex Pistols (who covered "Roadrunner" on The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle).
Despite the original group's premature break-up, many of its members found considerable success elsewhere: founding member John Felice formed the seminal Real Kids, Jerry Harrison later joined Talking Heads, David Robinson co-founded the Cars, and Ernie Brooks would later work with David Johansen. Richman retained use of the band name "the Modern Lovers," reusing the name for his subsequent groups in the 1970s and 1980s, but these bands were always billed as Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Richman continues to perform, often solo and preferring acoustic instruments, and currently has no plans to undertake another group like his original band. A tribute album comprised primarily of Modern Lovers songs, If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman, was released by Wampus Multimedia in 2001.
It's You
Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm watching different girls passing by
Don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
Even if I tried
Well don't you think it's kind of funny
All my friends would laugh if they knew
Cause if anyone don't need to worry now
Well now you're watching you're watching you're watching
When I'm watching different girls go their way
Don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
One sunny day
Well don't you think that girl's kind of pretty
Pay her a compliment when it's due
Cause if anyone doesn't need to worry girl
It's you it's you
Well now you're looking you're looking you're looking
When I'm watching different girls passing by
Well don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
Even if I tried
Well don't you think that girl's good looking
Pay her a compliment cause it's due
And if anyone don't need to worry girl
It's you it's you
The lyrics to "It's You" by Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers convey feelings of love and admiration towards a significant other. The singer expresses how even when surrounded by other attractive girls, he couldn't lose his love for his partner. In fact, he encourages his partner to appreciate beauty in others and compliments her himself, stating that she doesn't need to worry about losing him.
Throughout the song, the repetition of the lines "you're looking, you're looking, you're looking" is a reminder of the partner's watchful gaze. The singer acknowledges this and assures their partner that even though he may be looking at other girls, his love for her will always remain. The playful tone of the lyrics also suggests the singer's willingness to appreciate beauty in others without jeopardizing his relationship.
Overall, "It's You" is a light-hearted and romantic song about the importance of trust and appreciation in a loving relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of contentment and security, highlighting the importance of focusing on the present moment and the love shared between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well now you're looking you're looking you're looking
You seem to be staring in my direction quite a bit.
When I'm watching different girls passing by
However, I have been observing other girls walking past me.
Don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
Despite this, I have no intention of letting go of this love I have for you.
Even if I tried
It's just not something I could do.
Well don't you think it's kind of funny
I realize that there's a humorous aspect to this situation.
All my friends would laugh if they knew
My friends would certainly find it amusing if they were to learn about this.
Cause if anyone don't need to worry now
But the truth is that there's no reason for concern on your part.
It's you it's you
You're the only one I care about and want to be with.
Well now you're watching you're watching you're watching
I notice that your gaze seems to follow me sometimes.
When I'm watching different girls go their way
While I'm busy watching other girls going about their day.
Don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
But do know that my feelings for you are unwavering despite all this.
One sunny day
It's a feeling that will stay with me come rain or shine.
Well don't you think that girl's kind of pretty
I must admit that I am attracted to that girl over there.
Pay her a compliment when it's due
But I do not see any harm in giving credit where credit is due and letting her know she looks lovely.
Cause if anyone doesn't need to worry girl
But still, it's important to remember that you are the one I am devoted to.
It's you it's you
You are the only one I need and want in my life.
Well now you're looking you're looking you're looking
I see you are still observing me from afar.
When I'm watching different girls passing by
But it's important to remember that I am simply watching other girls go about their business.
Well don't you know that I couldn't lose this love
And through it all, my love for you remains intact and unchanging.
Even if I tried
It's not a love that can be so easily let go of.
Well don't you think that girl's good looking
I can't help but notice the beauty of the woman over there.
Pay her a compliment cause it's due
But it's only natural to give a sincere compliment to someone who deserves it.
And if anyone don't need to worry girl
But it does not change the fact that you are the one who truly matters to me.
It's you it's you
You are the one I want to be with, now and always.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@theodoremarvel
One of the greatest songs ever written, which I'm sure Jonathan would concede as hyperbole. But I'm beyond certain that it's the truth.
@rubberchix
jonathan richman is the worst jonathan richman fan ever
@arnouddelporte8189
One of the greatest, surely. But I prefer Ice Cream Man, not that it’s all that different, but it’s happier and Jonathan Richman is all about happiness to me.
@rubberchix
@Arnoud Delporte to me there is no definitive version of IMM
@jlth8061
Agreed!!
@russasher6962
Hyperbole beyond certain
Most would concede
@daegrant
Can someone please be persuaded to re-release this album and Rockin' and Romance. They contain some of the great man's finest songs.
@cominginsecond
They're my two favorite two. This is top shelf Jojo.
@hightimesbruce
I saw him live a few months ago, and he's still rocking it, even at sixty years old!
@kevinkinal9557
This so was not only my favorite song of his, but it was so amazing to me that I woudl go years between listenings - in order to insure I never got used to it and thereby I could preserve the wonder of it.