Kirby's soprano voice became apparent early in life and she was thought to be good enough for opera. She became a professional singer after meeting the bandleader, Ambrose at the Ilford Palais. She remained with Ambrose's band for three years and he remained her manager and mentor until his death in 1971.
She adopted the look of a 'blonde bombshell', and was compared to Marilyn Monroe. Her looks, lip-gloss and her powerful, pitch-perfect voice became her trademarks. She had a string of Top 20 hits between 1963 and 1965, the best known of which is probably her cover version of "Secret Love".
Kathy Kirby became one of the biggest stars of the mid-sixties, appearing in the Royal Command Variety Performance and three television series for BBC TV. She represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, and came second with the song "I Belong". She also sang the theme tune of the BBC television series Adam Adamant Lives!.
Kathy Kirby's star faded in the late sixties. She recorded twelve singles and an album between 1967 and 1973, but did they did not achieve her previous success. She continued to make television appearances, and her 1974 appearance on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club TV variety show is available to watch on YouTube.
During the 1970s Kathy Kirby endured personal bankruptcy and some health problems, but she made occasional television appearances and performed a few live gigs on the "nostalgia circuit". In the early 80s, although only still in her early 40's, she retired from show business altogether. Kathy Kirby later lived away from the public eye in the Kensington area of London, and shunned publicity.
Her music is now attracting some renewed interest after the publication of a biography in 2005 entitled "Secrets, Loves and Lip Gloss" by James Harman, and the launch of an official website. There have been unconfirmed reports of plans to dramatise her life story based on the biography, and for some live performances.
Kirby died on 19 May 2011 after a short illness. She was 72.
You're The One
Kathy Kirby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one that I even lie for
The one that I even die for
You're the lover that I cry for
Oh my darling hear me sighing
For you left me sad and lonely
Can't you see, my one and only
Oh, my darling, hear me crying
Can't you see my heart is dying
Come to me
Oh, I implore you
I love everything about you
My life is nothing without you
Come back, come back, come back to me
Oh, I implore you
I love everything about you
My life is nothing without you
Oh my lover
The lyrics of Kathy Kirby's song "You're The One" speak of deep love and longing for someone who has left the singer alone and broken-hearted. The opening lines express how much the singer yearns for the love interest - to the point of telling lies and being willing to sacrifice everything, even life itself. The singer's heart is shattered into pieces, making it impossible to carry on without the beloved. The chorus echoes the desperate plea for the lost love to come back, to return and fill the void that their absence has left. The final lines exemplify everything the singer loves and misses about the person and how their life is incomplete without the person. It's a poignant and powerful message of heartache and vulnerability.
Kathy Kirby's "You're The One" was released in 1964, and it made it to the top of the UK music charts. The song was written by Petula Clark, who is perhaps better known for her song "Downtown." Interestingly, Petula Clark recorded a version of "You're The One" herself, but it did not gain the same success as Kirby's version. The song's success led to Kirby being dubbed the "Queen of the Mods" due to her fashion and hairstyle at the time. The song was later covered by numerous artists and became a staple on the nightclub and cabaret scene.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the one that I sigh for
You are the only person I long for and yearn to be with.
The one that I even lie for
I would tell fibs just to maintain your trust and not mess anything up.
The one that I even die for
If it came to me choosing between living a life without you or dying, I would choose the latter.
You're the lover that I cry for
Whenever you're away, you make me feel sad and heartbroken. That's when I cry for you the most.
Oh my darling hear me sighing
Oh my dear, listen to me exhale with longing and deep desire for you.
For you left me sad and lonely
You made me feel empty-handed when you left me all alone and shattered.
Can't you see, my one and only
Can't you see that you're the only person I want to be with and have in my life?
Can't you see my heart is dying
Can't you perceive the fact that my heart is almost lifeless without you?
Come to me
Please come back to me; I need you badly.
Oh, I implore you
My earnest request to you is to return and be by my side once more.
I love everything about you
There's not a single thing about you that I don't love and cherish immensely.
My life is nothing without you
My life has lost all its meaning and vitality in your absence.
Come back, come back, come back to me
Please come back to me, I beg of you.
Oh my lover
Oh, my dearest love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@margaretgaskell4958
You're the one :
You?re the one that I sigh for
The one that I even lie for
The one that I even die for
You?re the lover that I cry for
Oh my darling hear me sighing
For you left me sad and lonely
Can't you see, my one and only
Oh, my darling, hear me crying
Can't you see my heart is dying
Come to me
Oh, I implore you
I love everything about you
My life is nothing without you
Come back, come back, come back to me
Oh, I implore you
I love everything about you
My life is nothing without you
Oh my lover
@themajesticmagnificent8561
Viva Kathy.!..Her voice will go on.What a time it must have been in the 1960’s for music.Just brilliant.!❤️👍
@tracyyy99
What a singer, just discovered this fabulous amazing voice...Ordered her best of album.. can't wait to blast her singing in my car.
@dennisleecleven3209
I only discovered Kathy Kirby in the last few days. I bought a CD, book, and her autograph. Her voice is mesmerizing! It's so very good and unequalled by any one. I love female British singers from the 60s. Kathy Kirby was not one of the Beat girls by any means. Kathy was unique and I am astonished she didn't have recognition in the US. She was truly Great.
@mikeyenfield
Listen to Kathy’s “The way of love “ which was a regional hit in the USA just making the lower reaches of the Hot 100. In 1965 .Her manager Bert Ambrose refused to let her go to America ,and bad management and mental problems curtailed her career .
@stevemathews9535
I remember worshipping Kathy when I was a teenager, I had a signed portrait photograph and a scrapbook of cuttings from newspapers and magazines, now sadly long gone. Such a short sad life for this beautiful, sexy and talented lady. RIP
@margaretgaskell4958
She was amazing ....pity we do not have such singers now 2018
@davidwalsh3439
A tremendously talented and beautiful lady. Such a lovely voice. In different circumstances she really could have conquered the world.
@garrettdark9139
What a great singer, just heard this song on the radio, she sings it just as good live. Beats the pants of so called singers today even when she hits that high note holds it where as some todays commercial opera singers would be warbling.
With her stunning looks and voice should have been far more popular.
Sad that later she had some metal illness.
R.I.P. lovely singer and lady.
@happychappy12
Same here, I heard it on 'Sounds of the Sixties' this morning and just had to youtube it. Fabulous Singer, what a voice she had. Me Dad Luvved her and me Mam hated her, and now I can see why ha ha . Nice posting this isn't it . xx
@garrettdark9139
happychappy12 yes "Sound of the Sixties" is where I heard it. I listen every week.
I remember seeing her a few times when I was just a lad and even then thought she was a bit of a stunner. I recall her lips were always had a shine to them.
There were few good singers such as Matt Munro, round at the time that never made real transition into the rock and roll/pop, fortunately Dusty did.