The Diary
Little Anthony The Imperials Lyrics

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How I'd like to look into that little book,
The one that has the lock and key,
And know the boy that you care for,
The boy who's in your diary.

When it's late at night, what is the name you write?
Oh, what I'd give if I could see.
Am I the boy that you care for,

The boy who's in your diary?

Do you recall and make note of all
The little things I say and do?
The name you underline, I'm hoping that it's mine.
Darling, I'm so in love with you.

Please don't leave me blue. Make all my dreams come true.
You know how much you mean to me.

Say I'm the boy that you care for,
The boy who's in your diary.

Overall Meaning

The Diary by Little Anthony & the Imperials is a poignant love song that speaks of the desire of a young man to find out who the object of his affections thinks of when she writes in her diary. The song opens with the man expressing his curiosity about the diary, which he imagines has a lock and key. He longs to know the identity of the boy his love interest cares for, the same one she mentions in the confessional pages of her diary. As he wonders what name she writes in the diary late at night, he hopes that it is his.

As the song progresses, the man reflects on the little things he says and does, hoping that his love interest takes note of them in her diary. He is particularly curious if she underlines his name in the pages, hoping that he may be the boy she cares for. The man's love is apparent from the longing and wistfulness in his voice as he pleads with his love interest not to leave him blue but to make all of his dreams come true. He implores her to declare that he is the boy she cares for, the one in her diary.

Little Anthony & the Imperials recorded The Diary, a ballad, in 1958. The song was a Top 20 hit in the United States in 1958 and sold more than a million copies. The song's popularity was not limited to the United States; it also reached the Top 20 in the UK. The theme of The Diary was not unique, but the emotive delivery by the group helped set it apart from other songs of the time. The song also underlined the group's lyrical and vocal versatility.

Line by Line Meaning

How I'd like to look into that little book,
I desire to read that little book of yours,

The one that has the lock and key,
The book that cannot be accessed by anyone except you.

And know the boy that you care for,
I want to know who the boy is that you care about,

The boy who's in your diary.
The boy who you write about in your diary.

When it's late at night, what is the name you write?
During silent hours, whose name do you inscribe?

Oh, what I'd give if I could see.
I wish to have the opportunity to read what you write about me

Am I the boy that you care for,
I expect to know if I am the one you care for,

The boy who's in your diary?
The one you tirelessly write about in your diary

Do you recall and make note of all
Do you document everything I say and do

The little things I say and do?
The small details that characterize what I say and do.

The name you underline, I'm hoping that it's mine.
I pray that the name you underscore is mine,

Darling, I'm so in love with you.
Sweetheart, I love you profoundly.

Please don't leave me blue. Make all my dreams come true.
Please, don't make me unhappy. Help me chase my dreams.

You know how much you mean to me.
You are aware of how much you mean to me.

Say I'm the boy that you care for,
Confirm that I am the one you care for,

The boy who's in your diary.
The one whose presence in your diary is felt.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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