Born in Queens, New York, Linda Scott was still in high school when she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's radio show on CBS in 1959. After having won a place on the show, Linda and other young performers became regular guests on the show. During the show's run the young singer came to the attention of Epic records and Linda made her recording debut (singing as Linda Sampson) with the single 'In-Between Teen'.
In 1961 she signed with the Canadian-American label, a label that had struck gold with the Santo & Johnny single 'Sleep Walk'. Though still in high school, the label changed her performing name to Linda Scott producing and releasing the hit 'I've Told Every Little Star'. The song was originally written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern and was first used in the 1932 production of 'Music In The Air'. That year Scott had a total of 3 top 20 hits. She also wrote some of her own music, unusual for the time, including 'Three Guesses' which was the B side of 'I've Told Every Little Star' The next year she recorded for both Canadian-American records and it’s sister label Congress records. She also appeared in 'Don't Knock The Twist' starring Chubby Checker singing Yessiree'.
Though she released several more singles over the next 3 years they were less and less successful. Her last chart appearance was 'Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed' released in January 1964, the same month the Beatles made their first chart appearance.
In 1965 she became a cast member of the TV rock show ‘Where the Action is’ which she co-hosted with singer Steve Alaimo. Scott's last recording, 'They Don't Know You', was released in 1968 on RCA records and Scott quit show business soon after to pursue studies in theology. She was an army medical laboratory technician for two years and later received a degree in Theology from Kingsway Christian College and Theological Seminary in Des Moines.
The Complete Hits of Linda Scott was released by Bay area Eric records and “I’ve Told Every Little Star” was included in director David Lynch’s film Mulholland Dr..
I Told Every Little Star
Linda Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Why haven't I told you?
Oh, baby, I've told every little star
Just how sweet I think you are
Why haven't I told you?
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
I've told ripples in a brook
Made my heart an open book
Why haven't I told you?
Friends ask me, am I in love
I always answer "yes"
Might as well confess
If the answer's yes
Maybe you may love me, too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me?
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Dum
Friends ask me, am I in love
I always answer "yes"
Might as well confess
If the answer's yes
Maybe, you may love me, too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me?
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The lyrics to Linda Scott's "I've Told Every Little Star" express a sense of hesitation and longing to confess one's love to someone else. The first verse sets the tone with the repeated phrase, "Why haven't I told you?" despite having expressed admiration to other elements of nature like stars and ripples in a brook. The singer confesses to being asked if they're in love and answering yes, but still not having made the ultimate confession to their lover.
The chorus repeatedly asks "Why haven't you told me?" suggesting that the singer is waiting for their lover to make the first move. The final verse conveys a sense of hope and vulnerability, stating that "Maybe you may love me, too" and the hope that the lover also feels the same way.
Overall, the lyrics express a feeling of fear and hesitation when it comes to confessing one's true feelings. The singer has expressed their love in various ways, but still has not taken the ultimate step of confessing directly to their lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
An upbeat rhythm to start the song.
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Continuing the rhythm from the first line.
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The rhythm persists as the singer sings about something that's been on their mind.
Why haven't I told you?
Asking themselves why they haven't shared their feelings with someone they care about.
Oh, baby, I've told every little star
The singer has shared their feelings with the little stars, perhaps seeing them as confidants.
Just how sweet I think you are
What the singer has shared with the little stars, their opinion of the person they care about.
Why haven't I told you?
Reiterating that they still haven't shared these feelings with the person themselves.
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The rhythm continues.
I've told ripples in a brook
The singer has shared their feelings with the ripples in a brook, another way to express how strong their emotions are.
Made my heart an open book
By expressing their feelings through the ripples in a brook or singing to the stars, the singer has made it clear that their heart is open and vulnerable.
Why haven't I told you?
Despite sharing with inanimate objects, the singer still hasn't told the person how they feel.
Friends ask me, am I in love
Others around the singer have noticed their feelings and are asking if they're in love or not.
I always answer 'yes'
The singer doesn't deny their feelings when asked by their friends.
Might as well confess
Since the singer can't hide their feelings, they might as well share them with the person they care about.
If the answer's yes
Another way of saying the previous line, confirming that the singer does have feelings for the person they care about.
Maybe you may love me, too
An optimistic statement, suggesting that the person they care about might feel the same way.
Oh, my darling, if you do
If the person they care about does feel the same way, they will have confirmed their love for each other.
Why haven't you told me?
Reversing the sentiment expressed earlier, the singer wishes that the person they care about had also shared their feelings.
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The song ends with a final repetition of the rhythmic intro.
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The last bit of the song keeps the same rhythm as the previous line.
Dum-da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The song finishes with a final upbeat note.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CosmopolitanFools
" I've Told Every Little Star " ~ ( 1961 ) ~ Lyrics
------ By Linda Scott
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, da-dum
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, Da-dum
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Why haven't I told you
Oh, baby, I've told every little star
Just how sweet I think you are
Why haven't I, I told you
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da
I've told ripples in a brook
Made my heart an open book
Why haven't I, I told you
Friends ask me "am I in love"
I always answer "yes"
Might as well confess
If the answers yes
Maybe, you may love me too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, da-dum
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Friends ask me am I in love
I always answer yes
Might as well confess
If the answer's yes
Maybe, you may love me too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, da-dum
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, da-dum
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dum, da-dum
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Writer(s): Oscar Ii Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
@user-ih9lb2ov1u
I’ve Told Every Little Star Lyrics
Why haven't I told you?
I've told every little star
Just how sweet I think you are
Why haven't I told you?
I've told ripples in a brook
Made my heart an open book
Why haven't I told you?
Friends ask me am I in love
I always answer yes
Might as well confess
If the answer's yes
Maybe you may love me too
Oh my darling if you do
Why haven't you told me?
Friends ask me am I in love
I always answer yes
Might as well confess
If the answer's yes
Maybe you may love me too
Oh my darling if you do
Why haven't you told me?
@luka2nd
Thank you, Mr. David Lynch for making this song immortal.
@velikovskysghost
@luka2nd Linda Scott made the song immortal, Mr. Lynch was kind enough to bring it to our attention.
@k1nzhal
The movie is shit tho…
@hacorienella8189
Thank God for Moholland Drive. outSTANDING movie it is <3
@benreadspoetry7958
There’s such a sweet melancholy in this song; it touches me deeply.
@dynamicdave2647
Its a slight dose of melancholy… it still has a lot more positive vibes in my opinion
@cristabele
It’s very evocative of the time it came out - the early 1960s. I remember ice-skating to this in the Stadium in St. John’s Newfoundland to where our family had emigrated. I was in my very early teens and the world was my oyster.. 🙂
@kerrybabyxx
Reminds me of more innocent times and it has a wholesome wonderful vibe to it
@YolandaSaldivar4eva
I agree with everything everyone has said here. Every year I age I realize more and more that musical taste is far less subjective than we’re led to believe
@birdsfan57
Hearing this song on the H&M commercial was certainly a shock to me, as I still own this record, which I bought as a kid, when it was first released in the mid 60's. Has always been one of my favorites from a wonderful, magical era. The same can be said for the Apple commercial, featuring "The Mashed Potato", a fun song and dance that we kids loved to do back then, trying to emulate the dancers who did it on American Bandstand. So glad that a new generation is being exposed to, and just might appreciate, these classics. Two of the best...