Unchained Melody
June Valli Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long, lonely time,
Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much.
Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, "Wait for me, wait for me"
"I'll be coming home, wait for me!"





Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me

Overall Meaning

In "Unchained Melody," June Valli sings about longing for the touch of her love after being separated from them for a long time. She yearns for their love and asks if they are still hers. Time moves slowly when she's without them, and she recognizes that time can do so much both for and against their relationship.


The lyrics paint a picture of a river flowing towards the sea, hinting at how she feels lonely without her love, but hopeful that she will soon be reunited with them. She urges her love to speed their love towards her and acknowledges that she needs it.


The song is a timeless classic that has been covered numerous times by various artists. It was written by Alex North and Hy Zaret and first recorded in 1955 by Todd Duncan. The Righteous Brothers had a highly successful cover of the song in 1965, and it has since appeared in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, my love, my darling,
Addressing a beloved person with an endearing expression


I've hungered for your touch a long, lonely time,
Expressing a deep and prolonged desire for physical contact


Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much.
Reflecting that time feels prolonged and can have a significant effect


Are you still mine?
Expressing concern about the status of the romantic relationship


I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me.
Desperately requesting reciprocated affection and well wishes for it to come to fruition


Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
Using a metaphor for the persistence of nature and its movements towards a vast expanse


To the open arms of the sea
Continuing the metaphor, implying that the destination is a welcoming and encompassing place


Lonely rivers sigh, "Wait for me, wait for me"
Personifying the rivers and expressing a desire to return to their starting point


"I'll be coming home, wait for me!"
Making a promise to return to a loved one and to eagerly anticipate being reunited




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

mrob75

never knew this version rose this high on the charts...Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra and Chorus add a unique drama to this version...I really like it!

Ken Dibble

And so here it begins: One of t he most beautiful melodies ever written. Thanks June, Hugo, and especially Alex and Hy.

Walter Haight

Never heard this version. Thanks for posting!

More Versions