Joni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chica… Read Full Bio ↴Joni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chicago, IL. In her early years, she studied drama & ballet. After high school she toured Canada with a dance group. After taking a job as a chorus girl, she decided to pursue a singing career. MGM executives saw her in a TV commercial and she was signed by MGM in 1952.

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.

There Goes My Heart
Joni James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There goes my heart, there goes the one I love
There goes the girl I wasn't worthy of
There goes my happiness, it couldn't be
There goes somebody else in place of me

Goodbye romance, it couldn't last somehow
I had my chance but it's all over now
I never thought that she could pass me by

There goes my heart and here am I

I never thought that she could pass me by
There goes my heart and here am I

Overall Meaning

The song "There Goes My Heart" by Joni James is a poignant ballad about lost love and heartbreak. The lyrics convey a deep sense of regret and sadness as the singer realizes that the one she loves has moved on with someone else. The opening line "There goes my heart, there goes the one I love" sets the melancholic tone of the song. The singer says goodbye to the person she loved and expresses remorse at not being worthy of their affection.

The song's chorus repeats the phrase "There goes my heart" as the singer sees her former lover with someone new. She laments the end of their romance and acknowledges that it could never last. The second verse emphasizes the singer's shock at being left behind, as she never thought her lover could pass her by. The song ends with the singer alone, feeling the weight of her lost love.

Overall, "There Goes My Heart" is a powerful reminder of the pain of lost love and the ache of seeing someone we once loved move on. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak or regret.

Line by Line Meaning

There goes my heart, there goes the one I love
My heart just left with the person I love and now they're gone

There goes the girl I wasn't worthy of
The person I love just left and I never felt like I deserved them anyway

There goes my happiness, it couldn't be
My happiness just walked away with the person I love and it feels like it can never be mine again

There goes somebody else in place of me
Someone else has taken my place in the heart of the person I love

Goodbye romance, it couldn't last somehow
The romance between me and the person I love is over and it feels like it was never meant to last

I had my chance but it's all over now
I had the opportunity to be with the person I love, but that chance has now passed me by

I never thought that she could pass me by
I never imagined that the person I love could ever leave me behind and move on

There goes my heart and here am I
My heart has left with the person I love, and I am left alone and heartbroken

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Abner Silver, Benny Davis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

TheLimePopsicle

15y↑8

My favorite Joni recording, along with "There Must Be A Way". Glad you like the picture, and thank you for all the comments John!

Harry Riggs

7y↑1

I have been in love with Joni James since I was twelve years old. "I'll never stop loving you ".

TheLimePopsicle

14y↑8

Yes, this recording provided Joni with a top 40 comeback. It was the first of her records with this new orchestral sound with a beat. Her following singles used the same formula and a great one it was.

Bill Melton

13y↑5

Joni's is one of the first voices I remember hearing. Always a fave.

Phyllis Fish

5y↑4

I just love her voice, she is so great, everything she does is so wonderful!!

gerald cazden

7y↑24

Jeez, I forgot to say that Joni James was, and is my favorite female vocalist, and one of the few I can listen to for 10, 20 songs, and never get bored

Bob S. Fox

5y↑1

I HEAR YOU......

Archie Morrison

9y↑28

I cant get enough of this beautiful voice .I love her to bits

Charles Chomos

5y↑2

i also can not get enough of her lovely voice !

Charles Chomos

5y↑2

I CANT GET ENOUGH ... !

Marcus Reed

10y↑8

I feel head over heels for Joni when I first heard Purple Shades. My infatuation with her beauty in both voice and person has never subsided. What a treasure.

M Haile

Marcus Reed 0

R engle Engle

9y↑33

One of the best singers you can ever hear, great voice one of the best.

Ted Cantu

5y↑3

I second that. My father had some 78 records of her. I was 10 yrs old I loved her then. Had a chance to see her in person NYC late 1990s and had a chance to meet her back stage. What a night that was. Also she had a pink airplane she would perform around the world.

5GREYHOUND6

14y↑3

I have been a big fan of Joni since the first time that I heard her in 1952 when i was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan. I am now in my high seventies and hearing her music brings back many memories of my youth.

Pamela Marcellino

Thank you Sir for your service.
🇺🇲

Ruthann Brafford

7y↑4

One of my favorites by Joni. I loved her voice when I was a kid.

RICHARD WILLIAMS

10y↑8

My favorite Joni song - a well-written song sung by the best female singer ever !!

Sharon Blevins

I agree. What a class act. No one comes close. I was thrilled to meet her in person. It made my Christmas.

harpsichordite

9y↑10

There goes MY heart thumping for this woman, Her crescendos, glides and tremeloes are amazing

kevin jt

Who could not love this special voice .Thank GOD for Joni James.

Ted Cantu

Awesome comment. Shes my moms favorite.

marilyn callachan

6y↑5

SO HEARTWARMING HEARING ALL HER MUSIC AGAIN!!!♡♡♡♡😘

Wayne Brasler

13y↑1

Another example of Joni coming up with her own hits. She thought of putting this standard to a rock beat while waiting to be served in a New York deli before she and her husband Tony set off to visit his parents. She did want to enter the rockaballad field, as it was called then, but she also wanted to be doing a quality song, some some passing fancy. There were just a few takes, and the ones not used were as good as the released version.

Greg Miller

12y↑3

I remember my mom playing this song almost weekly, she really liked it, I didn't understand then, except I liked the piano in the background as was the norm for most all music then. Now as an adult the song is wonderful.

clarence fender

6y↑5

My girl who would become my wife got me hooked on Joni's beautiful voice.

rburrhead

3y↑1

JONI JAMES --ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS!!!!!

Wayne Brasler

11y↑2

This cover, by the way, was to have been the cover to an L.P. titled "There Goes My Heart" but instead M-G-M went with the later album "More Joni Hits." The recording session for this record was just amazing. Joni did four songs, two yet to be released, and she did one of them brilliantly. And this is all live, Joni singing with the entire orchestra, not to tracks. Morty Craft is credited as producer but, really, Joni did the producing, even altering the arrangement a bit.

John Baginski

7y↑16

One of the best and top singers of her generation her love songs were played on every juke box in America.

George Griffith

14y↑1

I can't get enough of hearing Joni sing - I had just been dischargeg from the Navy a year earlier (57). What memories - thank you for sharing.

Maureen Mizuno

10y↑6

Beautiful rendition. The original is also beautiful, recorded by Nat King Cole in 1953.

Tina Reggie

She did this song best. She was just marvelous.

Lee A

My mother sang and loved this song she would sing it a lot around the house when i was young rest in peace dear mum now singing in heaven ❤

ali

😥❤

Margo Lamont

9y↑10

The solution to having her in front of you when she sings is to put your set
on "REPEAT" I do on all her songs but to this day I can't get enough of that
Beauty and that Voice. When you love someone you just love someone.
That's when I see her...close your eyes and vision her there.

Kent Twitchell

7y↑1

She and Patti Page were the most loved singers of the mid '50s. Love her voice.

Vithu Kichodhan

Beautiful voice

jerry frasier

6y↑3

JONI MADE THE TRANSITION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL ERA....THERE GOES MY HEART TELLS THE STORY....WHAT AN EXPRESSIVE VOICE....NONE BETTER BEFORE JONI OR AFTER...

db2664

12y↑1

@TheLimePopsicle In many respects Joni was slightly ahead of the trend in pop music in the late 50's and 1960's, certainly among pop vocalists of taking soft ballads and applying a strong back beat percussion sound with orchestral strings and pronounced chorus backing. Dean Martin applied this formula with great success in the 60's and was followed by others such as Jerry Vale, Al Martino etc... They are all missed !!

Corrie121

15y

Great to hear this rendition again afterso many years. Thank you for sharing and thank you, sessnaxz fo sending.

Pamela Marcellino

What a great talent, beautiful too.
One of my Mother's favorites.

CeeCeeable

15y↑4

One of my Joni James favourite songs. Thanks 12Fegens for sharing..

1398445

8y↑1

Best female singer in the 50's. US Marines loved her!

Gregory Miller

The bassist is walking the up-right bass, love it!

Bob S. Fox

5y↑1

THE ANGEL OF SONGS IN THE 50'S & 60'S

Jimmie Wright

Wonderful music

peterstang

7y↑4

Brings back many fond memories.

Wolfsky9

My Dad's all-time favorite female singer. She was gorgeous, classy, & what a voice ! Love you, Joni James. -------------------------WolfSky9, 74 y/o

Christine Ramsey

What a great singer anf a great song.
Thank you for sharing 💕💕

Leopoldo Aborque

9y↑5

i love this song

Wayne Brasler

10y↑3

THE EP cover was actually the cover planned for an LP titled "There Goes My Heart" but Joni doesn't think she ever even saw a song listing for it because M-G-M executives were forever planning Joni compilations without asking her and she had the contractual right to approving any release and could decline. She believed any recording should be available only on any one album, not remarketed and remarketed. Four songs were recorded at the "There Goes My Heart" session, two still unreleased but Joni has the masters and she still plans to issue them in a special collector's album eventually. Her unreleased recordings are every bit as outstanding as what was released.

Veda Starr

9y↑19

My sister Penny bought this album with her first paycheck.RIP Penny.

Donald Smith

5y↑1

So sorry about your loss!

Wayne Brasler

8y↑5

This is exactly what was heard in the recording studio when this record was recorded. The full orchestra was right there with her; she never sang to pre-recorded tracks. This was the first session at which Tony Acquaviva finally conducted for Joni, in the seventh year of her recording career, and with his deep classical study and training he amazingly proved perfection for conducting Joni's first rockaballad.

Kinseydsp

8y↑3

May God Rest Tony She gave up her Singing to take of him.That is true Love and the very Best a Person can do. May God watch over Joni!

MrT Oldies

7y↑3

Appreciate your comments. I am a musician/was a music teacher. it's good to see an informed comment. today's recording use auto tune "Don't worry Bruno, will fix you vocal later with auto tune, otherwise we waste time and money." lol. Singers of yeserday had to nail it. Unless they just wnated a different take (Sinatra did it a lot), not correct a load of mistakes. Although I must say Lady Gaga can really sing and proved it with Tony Bennett duo a few years back.

bd C

Great comment.

Mary Krzeszowski

40w

Still love you joni. Beautiful voice

Michael OLoughlin

So loved Joni!

Triple R2017

7y↑1

Quintessential "There Goes my Heart" is Dinah Washington version in 1960. The real deal. So heartfelt.

gerald cazden

bullpucky

Lota Leung

11y

This was the first "adult" song I learned to sing when I was a kid...before that all I knew were nursery songs..and Tagalog songs which I sang very well too!

Lachlan Marshall

10y↑14

I loved Joni as a young man, now as a old man,I still do

Michael Heningham

Same man.

Clifford and Mary Ellen Anderson

@Michael Heningham I guess all of us old men still do.

Terry Morgan

This old man doe too.

murp h

Well said. Me too

usmale 49

@murp hMe too, she was so popular during the 50's! And I love her name: Joni James! Thanks for sharing!!

shatinterry

14y↑1

Another good one, it reached higher than 'There must be a way 'anyhow..

Violeta Dalisay

7y↑2

Love her voice ..where is she now ?

Wayne Brasler

12y↑1

Regarding the marketing dollars for Joni, well, I was there already running a Fan Club for her (at age 13) and involved in promotion and the story is M-G-M had to expand its marketing and distribution because Joni was selling so much bigger than any of its artists ever had. Hank Williams was a country giant but the country market was limited. Joni from the start became a gigantic international seller. She did it on her own not as a result of some marketing largesse.

Keith Dempsey

12y↑1

never really been into joni, until now and wow wonderful.

FRANK R. NOGGLE &

9y↑5

A ONE OF A KIND!!!!

Paul PaulC

6y↑1

As kids we use to sing these songs on the corner of our street

Elaine Losee

Just terrific

Paul PaulC

I grew up listening to Joni James....

Heather Johnson

My Dad's favorite singer!

Ron Korman

I'm still in love with her!

PMJ0011

13y↑1

"Tonight we love" was one of the best from Joni James, but too bad it's not here.

Francis Alan Wormald

THIS 82 YR old recalls Joni & the 4 Aces Versions sooo fondly...I was a teen...

Rosemarie Kury

7y↑1

I remember this. Loved it but didn't get a lot of sir play on the radio. Thanks for putting this on. Never hear this anymore.

Bob S. Fox

3y↑1

OH, HERE COME THE TEARS ONCE MORE.....WHAT A SINGER....LOVE BOB S. FOX

lam pinfan

8y↑3

Without youtube, I wont be able to know Joni James.Thanks.

Charles Chomos

i agree !

shatinterry

14y

You know Tom,back in those days HK hit parade chart normally review the top ten only, or top twenty at the most, so any songs after that we could hardly heard of, Remembered the radio music programme of that era, the DJ will normally read out large number of dedicaion list which last 5/7min & played the requested song for 2/3min, so we could hardly had a chance to listen to songs after the top 20s!!

William Souders

7y↑1

the best of all time

Carol Adami

10y↑1

Love it! GRAZIE! Here I am living in Rome Italy trying to find Joni James music! Found you toooooo....... :)

Maria C

There goes my Heart to the one I Love

Ronald Ferrari

LAKE WOOD PARK PA. JONIE SANG MY LOVE MY LOVE LOVE HER.

billp27

6y↑1

People like Joni and Timi Yuro To be introduced to a younger generation my friend introduced me to Joni about 10 years ago and I’ve been listening to TimI About two years

usmale 49

3y↑1

I loved Timi Yuro especially "Hurt"! And of course, Joni James.

aida rodriguez

13y↑1

memories of long lost love/ how it happened till now i could not understand but it was wonderful event of my life.

Fernando Leer

12y

Molto bene!!!!! Joni XXXX

Claire aka "Hayes-Fogarty"

I like this song a lot and wrote a parody of it.
"🎼There goes my brain,
Into the thick, thick fog ...🎼"
I wrote this parody because ever since I had COVID I've had terrible brain fog. I had COVID from Memorial Day to mid-June. And I still have brain fog.

Mike Hudson

Aw, memories of 1959

Maria Carril

12y↑2

GREAT CONCERT FOR MY 68TH B'DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.. I

Bob S. Fox

8y↑3

I Sang this Song so much I knew every Word.......Bob

freddy wessels

so cool this

Eddie Parker

EddieParker so beautiful singing another fantastic 50s song music was so awesome back then good old days believe me 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍🌹❤️😘😍💕

Robert Huge

11y↑1

This is the same orchestration that MGM employed when launching Connie Francis in 1958...hey, why change horses, right?

usmale 49

Yes, I always thought MGM was grooming Connie Francis to be their next "Joni James"! I love both of them!!

TEXASFENDERBENDER

11y

LOL There Goes MY Heart!! Back when Women had talent AND Class!

TheLimePopsicle

14y

@4george2 I am very grateful for your kindness as well! Please feel free to keep making comments on my videos, as I love to receive positive comments! It always helps motivate me to continue posting! :)

Gonzalo Senior

My god up to know she's still the no one singer in the whole world l love you Joni since I was in high school days I love your songs up to now your still no one for me pls reply I'm 74 yrs but felling young once I heard your golden voice long life w you Joni God be w you always. Mua

ronaldt491

10y↑1

Per IMDB she was born in 1930 and is still around.

Marajo Modjokutiko

11y↑1

thank you for sharing.

Keith

The first stereo 45 ever released

William Kablach

Still great all the wayi drom 58.

TheLimePopsicle

15y↑1

You are very welcome!

Ed Dowell

I SEEN HER PERFORH IN THE 50S NO THEATRICS NO FIREWORKS AND TWIRKING JUST STOOD UP TO THEMIKEAND THRILLED YOU

gerald cazden

7y↑4

IT explains why she'Barbra Steisand's favorite singer

Art M

Ef Barbra Streisand.

Albert Lucarini

9y↑5

Love gained, Love Lost

111oldie

15y

Thansk Mike for sharing.

TheLimePopsicle

15y↑1

You're welcome!

George Griffith

14y↑1

Hey LimePopsicle: Your kindness in sending me that email is overwhelming (I am listening now) and is there anyway I can return your KINDNESS? Let me know as there are not enough kind people in this world and those that are should be rewarded. Ever grateful!!!

bryn davies

7y↑2

dont u think Patsy Cline and many others were influenced by Joni?.....listen to EARLY Connie Francis...

gerald cazden

7y↑1

yeah. Mr. T Oldies, you're so right. I mean, not that Hip Hop has any intrinsic value, other than a constipated beat, but even the "vocals" are enhanced by "vocal processors" and various other electrical gimmicks. Well, I too am a gigging musician, who has been turned into a "gagging musician" by the monotonous. amelodic crap that passes as music today. Sorry if I'm old and old-fashioned

TheLimePopsicle

14y↑1

@4george2 You're welcome!

TheLimePopsicle

14y↑1

@26greenrose You're welcome!

Xtubelis

13y

While I respect the work this lady put into her career, there's an imbalance when an overwhelming vocal talent like, say, Rita Moss fades into the shadows while... well, those MGM marketing dollars certainly didn't hurt, right Ms. Babbo? Don't take it from me folks, listen for yourself. youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4tpe3gYMc