What Am I Living For
Mark Almond Lyrics


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What am I living for
If not for you
Tell me what am I living for
If not for you

Girl, what am I living for
If not for you
Whoa, oh, nobody else, baby
Nobody else will do

What am I longing for
Each lonely night,
To feel your lips to mine
And hold you tight

Yes, you'll be the only girl
My whole life through
Oh, nobody, baby
Nobody else will do

I want you close to me
That's all I know
I want you all the time
Darling, I love you so

What am I living for
If not for you
Tell me what am I living for
If not for you

I wanna know
What am I living for
What am I living for
If not for you
Oh, darling, nobody else
Nobody else will do

Oh, pick it, son

I want you close to me
That's all I know
I want you all the time
Because I love you so

Girl, what am I living for
If not for you
Tell me what am I living for
If not for you

What am I living for
If not for you
Oh, oh, nobody else, baby
Nobody else will do





Oh, oh, nobody, nobody, baby
Nobody else will do

Overall Meaning

In this song, Mark Almond is questioning the purpose of his life without the love of his significant other. He is expressing that his life has no meaning or direction if she's not in it. He repeatedly asks the question "What am I living for If not for you?" emphasizing the importance of their relationship in his life. He speaks about his longing for her and how he wants to hold her tight and feel her lips on his. Mark understands that she is the only one he wants to be with and no one else will do.


Overall, this song is a tribute to love and the importance of having that special person in our lives. It highlights the fact that without love, life can seem purposeless and unfulfilling. Mark's lyrics suggest that true happiness lies in finding that special someone and cherishing the love that blossoms between the two.


Line by Line Meaning

What am I living for
The singer is questioning the purpose of his existence


If not for you
The singer realizes that he is living for the person he loves


Tell me what am I living for
The singer is desperate for an answer or explanation to his question


Girl, what am I living for
The singer is addressing the person he loves openly


Whoa, oh, nobody else, baby
The singer confirms that no one else can replace the person he loves


What am I longing for
The singer is expressing his yearning desire for something


Each lonely night,
The singer feels lonely at night


To feel your lips to mine
The singer wants to kiss and be intimate with the person he loves


And hold you tight
The singer wants to embrace and hold the person he loves


Yes, you'll be the only girl
The person the singer loves is a girl


My whole life through
The singer wants to have the person he loves for his entire life


I want you close to me
The singer wants to be physically close to the person he loves


That's all I know
The singer is only sure about his love for the person


I want you all the time
The singer wants to be with the person he loves always and forever


Darling, I love you so
The singer expresses his deep love and affection for the person he addresses as 'Darling'


I wanna know
The singer expresses his need for knowledge or information


Oh, darling, nobody else
The singer confirms that he loves only the person he addresses as 'Darling'


Oh, pick it, son
A phrase used to encourage or signal a musical interlude


Oh, oh, nobody, nobody, baby
The singer confirms with emphasis that he loves only one person


Nobody else will do
The person the singer loves is irreplaceable


What am I living for
The singer repeats his question regarding the purpose of his existence


Oh, oh, nobody else, baby
The person the singer loves is the center of his universe and cannot be substituted


Nobody else will do
The person the singer loves cannot be replaced by anyone or anything else in his life




Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@fredrickmillstead6397

God I love this song.

@thomasskladany7760

Bought this album in '73 as a know it all 18 yr .old...This was the one cut that blew me away . Fifty years and alot of living later I can truly say I get it !!! Peace & Love to all my Brothers & Sisters.....

@Solarshoji

This is in the top 5 best songs ever! I bought this album somewhere in Tokyo when I saw it out of the corner of my eye while riding an escalator. And then to learn that it wasn't a guy named Mark Almond. Hahaha! They also played on John Mayall's "A Turning Point". Another perfect LP.

@ekelleySL3

God, I love this song.

@user-mk7sq7qb9d

My older brother bought this album when i was 14 But i wore it out mainly "What am i living for" As a confussed teenager this song gave me direction and asked the question we have all asked young and old Still have it on my ipod (still have an ipod) A classic simply song that was one of the first live songs i heard that blew away the studio version ( I was strictly studio version fan at that age) this song changed my perspective Went to my 1st concert at 17 and never looked at studio albums the same way Underrated and probably underheard by most music gurus Thanks bro for not being mainstream or id have missed it too

@bills4u

My dad loved this song. I remember playing it on my record player back in the 1970s. My dad hated most of my music, but this song stopped in his tracks everytime I played it.

@written12

dan victori
The intelligence and sadness of the lyrics got to him. And you can understand the words.
And the music is melodious, jazzy.

I think a lot of parents- those of us who grew up in the late sixties and early/ mid seventies- had time for rock that was loud and singers with poor diction.

I imagine your father might have liked Joni Mitchell. My dad was fond of one song on the radio back in ‘73– Help Me, by Joni.

@sammyscotch9945

My dad and I didnt get along at all! Ao much to my surprise when 1 day he told me he liked some of dylans stuff, the band and really shocking janis joplin-and loved this song

@lastnamefirst4035

@sammy scotch I wish my dad had liked me. He never did even as a little kid. Perhaps his nod to his liking some of my music was his way of saying I wasn't all bad. Im 67 now. Life is short. Ive enjoyed it more since turning 60. Odd but trueI

@christinenowell-loelf5682

had this on a boot-leg 8 track tape, long since gone. tried to replace it later and could never find it. well. 45 years later i am listening again now, in tears. some things you never forget.

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