The youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Newton-John moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her family when she was five. By the age of fifteen, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four. Later that year she won a talent contest on the popular TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which earned her a trip to London. By 1963, Newton-John was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. She cut her first single for Decca Records in 1966, a version of Jackie DeShannon’s "Till You Say You’ll Be Mine." In 1971, she recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s "If Not For You," co-produced by John Farrar, with whom she continued to collaborate.
Her 1973 U.S. album debut, "Let Me Be There," produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Newton-John being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. Her countless successes include three more Grammys, numerous Country Music Awards, American Music Awards and Peoples Choice Awards, five 1 hits including “Physical,” which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and 15 top 10 singles.
In 1978, her co-starring role with John Travolta in “Grease” catapulted Newton-John into super-stardom. This film led to the production of the most successful movie musical soundtrack in history, featuring the duets "You’re The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights," with Travolta, as well as her mega-hit, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." The film was re-released worldwide in 1998 in celebration of its 20th anniversary to even more acclaim, a true testament to the film’s timeless quality. Her other film credits include “Xanadu,” “Two Of A Kind,” “It’s My Party,” and “Sordid Lives.” She followed that success, by co-starring with her daughter, Chloe, in the Showtime movie, “The Wilde Girls.” Clearly following in her mother’s footsteps, Chloe has recently signed her first record label contract.
Newton-John appeal was boundless. With a career spanning more than three decades she was adored by fans across the world. Throughout her career, the much-loved star, who danced with Gene Kelly in “Xanadu,” hosted the popular internationally syndicated “Wild Life” television show, was bestowed an O.B.E. (Order Of The British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth in 1979, has held many humanitarian causes close to her heart, particularly since the birth of her daughter Chloe in 1986. She served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme and in 1991, the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC (Children’s Health Environ-mental Coalition) was founded after the tragic death of Chloe’s best friend from a rare childhood cancer, with Olivia serving as National Spokesperson for ten years. Newton-John’s devotion and shared commitment to CHEC’s mission and goals enabled the organization to receive worldwide attention and support. (For more information visit www.CHECnet.org.)
Her charmed life has not been without its share of upset. In the 90s, Newton-John successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, “GAIA,” her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used these experiences to gain greater self-awareness and became a positive inspiration to millions of people battling cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, Newton-John became increasingly well known and respected for talking openly about her battle with breast cancer and for promoting public awareness of the importance of early detection. Her personal victory against cancer led her to announce her partnership with the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre and the creation of the “Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre” (ONJCC) on the Austin Campus in her hometown, Melbourne, Australia. The ONJCC will provide a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research. (For more information visit www.armc.org.au.)
Newton-John was acknowledged many times by charitable and environmental organizations for her ongoing efforts, among them: the American Red Cross, the Environmental Media Association, the Women’s Guild of Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, the Rainforest Alliance and Concept Cure. Olivia promotes breast health awareness and has introduced the “Olivia Breast Self-Exam Kit,” an aid to help women perform self-exams with more ease and confidence (www.liv.com).
In the 2000's, her interational recognition continued to grow. She was invited by the Vatican on behalf of Pope John Paul II to perform at the Jubilee Celebration for the Sick and Healthcare Workers. Olivia was thrilled to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics to an estimated global viewing audience of four billion people. Adding to this Olympic experience is what Olivia feels is one of her most memorable moments – the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay. Her passion for Australia was ignited again when Olivia reunited with friend and business partner, Pat Farrar, to promote the Koala Blue brand with distinctly Australian wines to proudly bring “the taste of Australia” to the rest of the world. Her healing spirit also led to the opening of the GAIA Retreat & Spa in her homeland of Australia (www.GaiaRetreat.com.au).
In 1999, her album, "Back With A Heart," garnered her an Emmy Award for her songwriting. In 2000/2001, Olivia released her only live album, "One Woman’s Live Journey," followed by “Magic - The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John,” which celebrated thirty years of recording. And if that wasn’t enough, she also released her first holiday album, “The Christmas Collection.” In 2002, a CD of duets simply titled, “2,” was recorded in Australia and features a host of talented Ozzies along with a couple of her American friends, followed by “Indigo: Women of Song,” a tribute to some of her favorite female performers.
The CD “Stronger Than Before,” release in 2005, features songs of inspiration, courage and hope that relate to the complex emotions cancer patients and their loved ones experience. A portion of the CD’s proceeds benefit cancer research.
Her recording, “Grace and Gratitude,” a CD for relaxation to promote spiritual balance and physical and emotional healing, was released in September 2006 and coincided with the launch of Newton-John's wellness products for women.
In 2002, Newton-John was inducted into the prestigious Australian Music Hall Of Fame at the 16th Annual Aria Awards. Her latest honors include receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award by friend John Travolta at the G’Day L.A. Ball in 2006.
Newton-John was also appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia by the Queen for her “service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organizations supporting breast cancer treatment, education and training research, and the environment.”
Wesite www.OliviaNewton-John.com
If You Love Me
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I grew to love you more each passing day
Before too long, I built my world around you
And I prayed you'd love enough of me to stay
If you love me, let me know
If you don't, then let me go
I can't take another minute
If you love me, let it be
If you don't, then set me free
Take the chains away
That keep me loving you
If you love me, let me know
If you don't, then let me go
I can't take another minute
Of a day without you in it
If you love me, let it be
If you don't, then set me free
Take the chains away
That keep me loving you
Oh, take the chains away
That keep me loving you
The song "If You Love Me" by Olivia Newton-John is a ballad about the uncertainty of love. The opening lines convey the singer's initial joy and contentment when the person in question enters her life. She begins to build her world around this person and falls deeply in love with them. However, the weight of the uncertainty of their love leaves her feeling confused and vulnerable. She reaches out to them, asking for clarity on how they feel. She implores them to be honest with her and let her know if they truly love her or not.
The repeated refrain of "If you love me, let me know / If you don't, then let me go" emphasizes the significance of this honesty to the singer. She acknowledges that she can't bear the thought of living without this person, but she also can't continue living in uncertainty. She needs to move forward one way or the other. The final plea to "take the chains away that keep me loving you" encapsulates the feeling of being trapped and bound to a situation that is unsustainable.
Overall, the song highlights the importance of honesty and communication in relationships. It underscores the pain and uncertainty of loving someone who may not reciprocate those feelings. It's a poignant exploration of the complexities of romance, and the dangers of subsuming oneself in someone else's love.
Line by Line Meaning
You came when I was happy in your sunshine
You arrived in my life when I was content and enjoying my days.
I grew to love you more each passing day
As days went by, my affection for you just kept increasing.
Before too long, I built my world around you
Without realizing, I made you the center of my life and everything revolved around you.
And I prayed you'd love enough of me to stay
I hoped you loved me enough to stay with me and never leave.
If you love me, let me know
Please be clear about your feelings towards me.
If you don't, then let me go
If you do not have feelings for me, then let me move on.
I can't take another minute
I cannot bear to spend even a moment more.
Of a day without you in it
Without you, my day feels incomplete and dull.
If you love me, let it be
If you have love for me, make it known and clear to me.
If you don't, then set me free
If you do not love me, then allow me to move forward without any emotional ties to you.
Take the chains away
Remove any emotional bonds or feelings that keep me attached to you.
That keep me loving you
Get rid of anything that prevents me from letting go of my affection for you.
Oh, take the chains away
Emphasizing the need to be free from any emotional attachment to the person they are singing about.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Henry Rostill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@linhvo-kv6mt
"If You Love Me, Let Me Know"
You came when I was happy in your sunshine
I grew to love you more each passing day
Before too long I built my world around you
And I prayed you'd love enough of me to stay
If you love me let me know
If you don't then let me go
I can't take another minute
Of a day without you in it
If you love me let it be
If you don't then set me free
Take the chains away
That keep me loving you
The arms that open wide to hold me closer
The hands that run their fingers through my hair
The smile that says "hello, it's good to see you"
Anytime I turn around to find you there
It's this and so much more that make me love you
What else can I do to make you see
You know you have whatever's mine to give you
But a love affair for one can never be
If you love me let me know
If you don't then let me go
I can't take another minute
Of a day without you in it
If you love me let it be
If you don't then set me free
Take the chains away
That keep me loving you
Take the chains away
That keep me loving you
Loving you
@riameiknight6185
Who is listening in 2024...let me know.
@gndaubs
She passed away today. So sad for her family and all of us fans of hers.
Thank you, Olivia, for how beautifully you sang and how much joy you brought to our lives. We will miss you! 💕
@forcewielder2000
Yes, came here after hearing the news of her passing on the radio. RIP, Olivia! Know that there are many of who will always love you and wished we could have let you know in person!
@zxccxz164
this is UNBELIEVABLE awesome song......terribly sad at her passing
@carolinapandies
This loss hurts more than Patrick Swayze … 😭😭😭
@michaeljohnson-sd4yo
Amen
@loriworpell2259
She was and Angel! RIP Olivia 💗
@johntyler5730
The world was a much better place due to Olivia Newton-John being in it. A beautiful woman with an amazing voice. I've loved her songs for the past 40 years. RIP. You will be missed.
@stevennovak5897
Amen
@DSE233
Couldn't have said it any better myself. Thank u.😥😢