Unchained Melody
Manilow Barry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time
But 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
Lonely rivers cry, wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, please, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch, a long, long lonely time
But 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, to me
The song Unchained Melody by Barry Manilow is about longing and the passing of time. The opening lyrics show the depth of the singer's yearning for his beloved who has been separated from him for a long time. He has been longing for her touch and wonders if she is still his. The slow passage of time is emphasized, suggesting that the despair of the separation has been agonizingly prolonged. The singer then implores the object of his affection to hurry and send her love to him.
The concept of separation and waiting is then repeated in the second verse where the imagery of a lonely river flowing into the sea, to the open arms of the ocean is used to represent the singer's journey home to his love. The waiting river is symbolic of his own waiting and implies that his journey is long and difficult. The sadness and longing continue in the refrain and the singer echoes his earlier sentiments when he says that he still needs her love and is still waiting for her.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of deep love and longing that is tinged with sadness and the passage of time. It is a song that touches on the theme of waiting and the pain of separation that is relatable to many people.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my love, my darling
The singer addresses his beloved, expressing his deep affection
I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time
The singer has been yearning for his beloved's affection for a long time
But time goes by, so slowly and time can do so much
Although time may seem to move slowly, it can change so much in the course of one's life
Are you, still mine?
The singer asks if his beloved still belongs to him
I need your love, I need your love
The singer emphasizes his strong desire and dependence on his beloved's love
God speed your love to me
The singer invokes God's blessings to bring his beloved's love to him
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
The rivers, like the singer, move towards a greater entity and unification
To the open arms of the sea
The sea represents a welcoming and accepting entity, like the singer's beloved
Lonely rivers cry, wait for me, wait for me
The river, like the singer, yearns for someone to wait for them and remain in their life
I'll be coming home, please, wait for me
The singer promises to return to his beloved, asking them to wait for his return
Oh, my love, my darling,
The singer repeats his affectionate address to his beloved
I've hungered for your touch, a long, long lonely time
The singer has been deeply longing for physical and emotional connection with his beloved for a very long time
Are you still mine?
The singer repeats his question about the status of his relationship with his beloved
I need your love, I need your love
The singer reiterates the importance of his beloved's love in his life
God, speed your love, to me, to me
The singer once again calls upon God to bring his beloved's love to him
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rossana sanchez
Me quedo sin palabras ya que no son suficientes para decir lo que siento con sus maravillosas canciones.Lo amo🤗😘
Mathilde Menentaud
J'adore!….
Mariluisa Sardinha
Simplesmente maravilhoso
Frankie Hernandez
Inigualable Barry. Un ídolo en México
Людмила Николаевна
Нет равных Барри! Голос! Артистичность! Элегантность!
Georgia Eitel
He still is and always will be the best! Since the seventies every time I hear him its amazing!
Marcos Have
"He was my singer when I was a teenager. Today, at the age of 58, I come across a song and an interpretation like that 🙌.. it's fantastic!.. thank you, Barry! For existing and sowing love for people!" Hugs from Brazil 🎷👏👏👏 Goodnight 🌹🙏
Jhennessy De-La-Fuente
Wow, how beautiful interpretation by the one and only Barry Manilow, love it!😍
Grant Augustyniak
Such an amazing voice & person ! He always sings from his heart !
Elaine Gerber
Such a great performer. In my book he'll never go out of greatness.