She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"
She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Don't Take Your Love from Me
Joni James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then take my breath and never let it go
If you just let me invade your space
I′ll take the pleasure, take away the pain
And if in the moment I bite my lip
Baby, in the moment, you'll know this
Is something bigger than us and beyond bliss
Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta gotta gotta love me harder
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta love me harder
Gotta love me harder
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
I know your motives and you know mine
The ones that love me, I tend to leave behind
If you know about me and choose to stay
Then take this pleasure and take away the pain
And if in the moment you bite your lip
When I get you moaning you know it′s real
Can you feel the pressure between your hips?
I'll make it feel like the first time
Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta gotta gotta love me harder (I'll love you harder)
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta love me harder (love me harder)
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
So what if I can′t figure it out?
You got to try, try, try again
So what if I can′t figure it out?
I'm gonna leave, leave, leave
Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta gotta gotta love me harder (I′ll love you, love you, love you)
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta love me harder (love me, love me, baby)
Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta gotta gotta love me harder (love me harder)
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta love me harder (Imma love you harder)
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
(Love me, love me, baby)
Love me, love me, love me
(Just a little bit, just a little bit harder, babe)
Harder, harder, harder
Joni James’s song Don't Take Your Love From Me is a love song that is about the need for more love in a relationship. The song is a plea for a lover to love harder and give more. The song starts by the singer requesting the lover to tell her something that she needs to know and not just stop there but take her breath and never let it go. She wants to invade his space and take away his pain and in return, she promises to take pleasure out of his life. She bites her lip at the thought of the moment passing by because it is something bigger than both of them and offering them more pleasure than they even anticipated.
The chorus of the song repeats the plea for the lover to love harder and not just love her, but love her “harder”. The lyrics display that the singer knows her flaws, and she is afraid that her lover would leave since her flaws always make her leave the ones who love her. The singer believes that her lover knows about her, and if he chooses to stay, he can take her pleasure and pain away. In return for that, the singer would make him feel the pressure between his hips, making every experience together feel like the first time.
Overall, the singer of the song is trying to convince her lover that if he wants to keep her, he needs to love her harder, and she would love him harder in return.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me something, I need to know
Please tell me the truth and don't hide anything from me.
Then take my breath and never let it go
Make me feel alive and never let me go.
If you just let me invade your space
If you allow me to be a part of your life.
I'll take the pleasure, take away the pain
I'll bring you joy and make your troubles disappear.
And if in the moment I bite my lip
When I am nervous, you will know it.
Baby, in the moment, you'll know this
You will understand that this is an important moment.
Is something bigger than us and beyond bliss
This is an experience that is beyond description and more significant than just us.
Give me a reason to believe it
Please give me evidence that this is real and not just a dream.
Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta gotta gotta love me harder
If you want to maintain our relationship, you need to love me even more.
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta love me harder
If you truly want me in your life, you have to love me with every fiber of your being.
I know your motives and you know mine
We both understand each other's intentions.
The ones that love me, I tend to leave behind
I have a bad habit of leaving those who love me the most.
If you know about me and choose to stay
If you know everything about me and still want to be with me.
Then take this pleasure and take away the pain
You will experience happiness with me and I will help alleviate your suffering.
When I get you moaning, you know it's real
If I can make you feel great, then you'll know that my feelings are genuine.
Can you feel the pressure between your hips?
Do you feel the intensity of our connection?
I'll make it feel like the first time
I'll make you feel as if we're experiencing this for the very first time.
So what if I can't figure it out?
What if I don't understand something?
You got to try, try, try again
We have to keep trying to figure it out.
I'm gonna leave, leave, leave
If we cannot figure it out, I may have to leave.
Love me, love me, love me
Show me your affection by loving me.
Harder, harder, harder
Love me with greater intensity and with all your might.
(Love me, love me, baby)
Affectionately express your love towards me.
(Just a little bit, just a little bit harder, babe)
Love me with just a little bit more intensity, baby.
Contributed by Sophia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GM8101PHX
Music of this caliber is unheard of now, thankfully this music has been recorded and saved. There is no talent today. This song was recorded and released prior to my birth in 1957, however my parents played these wonderful master pieces in our home. This enriched us to know what wonderful music is!
@waynebrasler
Among the greatest recordings of Joni James. Stunning. The searing trumpet solo is by James Morreale. When the album appeared I begged M-G-M to put this track out as a single along with "Love Letters" from the previous album "When I Fall In Love." I was 15 at the time. I was told there was no plan to put out such a single. Two months later the single came out! Not my doing evidently; the disc jockeys of America requested and requested it. Brilliant minds swimming in the same river!
@Don5049curtis
What a great song and a great voice. Thanks for posting it.
@GM8101PHX
The trumpet is wonderful, clear and so sharp!
@GM8101PHX
This woman sings as though she is singing directly to you, the voice is amazing along with the orchestra backing, very romantic song!
@MJLeger-tz4so
Joni had such a clear, soprano voice, one of those Italian singers again, that gave us so much. She's 89 ow, doesn't seem possible, we wish her well.
I used to get this song requested a lot when I was performing, I still sing it at home, but it hurts my heart now! I think the lyrics of this song are so poignant.
@richardmillar7221
absolutely beautiful heartwarming makes one want to cry beautifully sung and great background music
@JoePiervincentiWorld
I love the childlike quality of her voice. 😎
@trumpsahead
I recall her when I was a kid. She had a lovely voice but sang straight without much embellishment, but very pleasant. Gloria Lynne had the best version of this great tune imho, but this is a fond memory too. Thank you for posting.
@biggirlprincess
This is the music we have forgotten...but should always remember.