Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the wo… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world's top competitions[citation needed] in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres—the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfield, Kansas. His performances, played on both steel string and classical guitars, include musical styles ranging from blues to Bach to country to rhythm 'n' blues.

In the '80s and '90s Chapdelaine twice won the coveted National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Grant and took First Prize in both the Guitar Foundation of America's and the Music Teachers National Association's Guitar Competitions. He also won the Silver Medal in Venezuela's VIII Concurso International de Guitarra "Alirio Diaz". He has toured four continents while giving hundreds of performances for Affiliate Artists Inc., and various arts promotion organizations. In 1992 he recorded the Sonata Romantica CD, (now re-released as "Mexico"), about which Acoustic Guitar magazine (January 1993) wrote "... if I were marooned on a desert island with a limited selection of recordings, this one would be among my choices...I have seldom heard a more beautiful album. Other young guitarists have excellent technique, but few have such style and musicality, and Chapdelaine's beautiful tone is the nearest to Segovia's that I can recall."

In 1994 Chapdelaine turned his attention to pop music, in arranging, producing, and recording Time-Life Music's Guitar by Moonlight collection (also released as "with love"), which sold 250,000 copies in its first two years in the stores.[citation needed] In 1998, he won the National Fingerpicking Championships at Winfield.[citation needed]

Chapdelaine is Professor of Music and head of guitar studies at the University of New Mexico, and has previously been on the faculties of the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State University. He has given master classes throughout the world including, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Peru, Venezuela, Taiwan, Indonesia, and at institutions such as University of Miami, Mannes School of Music, University of Texas, and California State University.

Unchained Melody
Michael Chapdelaine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
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
To the open arms of the sea
yeah
Lonely rivers sigh "Wait for me"
Wait for me
I'll be coming home
Wait for me

Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered,
Hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine
I need your love, I,

I need your love
God speed your love to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael Chapdelaine's song Unchained Melody speak of the pain of being separated from the one you love and desperately longing for their touch. The opening line, "Oh my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch," sets the tone for the entire song. With the passage of time, the longing for the loved one only intensifies, expressed through the lines, "A long lonely time, and time goes by so slowly."

The chorus of the song reveals the deep desire to be reunited with the loved one. The repetition of the line, "I need your love, I need your love. God speed your love to me" shows the desperation and urgency to have the longed-for love returned. The second verse continues with the theme of longing and waiting, describing how the lonely rivers flow towards the sea, where the singer hopes to be reunited with their lover once again. The phrase "Lonely rivers sigh 'Wait for me'" echoes the singer's own plea to their beloved, to wait for them and keep the flame of love burning until they can be reunited once again.

Overall, Michael Chapdelaine's Unchained Melody is a poignant tribute to the power of love and the intense pain of separation. The haunting melody combined with the emotive lyrics makes this song a classic that continues to move people across generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh my love, my darling
The singer addresses his beloved, expressing affection and a strong emotional connection to them.

I've hungered for your touch
The singer has a deep longing for physical contact and intimacy with their loved one.

A long lonely time
The singer has been experiencing a sense of isolation and emotional emptiness for an extended period.

Time goes by so slowly
The passing of time feels interminable and painful for the singer, emphasizing their sense of absence and longing.

And time can do so much
Time can be a powerful force, either enhancing or dampening emotions and experiences, often beyond our control.

Are you still mine?
The singer expresses vulnerability and uncertainty, asking if their partner still loves and wants them as strongly as before.

I need your love
The singer yearns for the emotional connection and affection that their loved one provides.

God speed your love to me
The singer asks for the support and care of their loved one from a higher power, emphasizing the strength of their desire and need.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea
The singer observes the movement of natural elements (rivers) towards a larger, encompassing entity (the sea), emphasizing the continuity and inevitability of change.

To the open arms of the sea
The sea is characterized as a welcoming, embracing entity, suggesting a desire for solace and acceptance from the wider world.

Lonely rivers sigh 'Wait for me'
The singer anthropomorphizes the river, imbuing it with a sense of yearning and a desire for reunion.

Wait for me
The singer echoes the river's longing and asks for patience and commitment from their partner.

I'll be coming home
The singer promises to return and reestablish emotional connection with their loved one, suggesting a positive resolution to their loneliness and suffering.

Writer(s): Hy Zaret, Alex North

Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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