Born in Franklin, Tennessee, Knight made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a quintet consisting of school friends. Signed to Dot Records in 1960, they recorded "Free Me" in 1961, a US R&B hit single that outsold a rival version by Johnny Preston.
After this initial success, their subsequent releases flopped, resulting in a breakup of the group. They also broke their recording contract with Dot and were prevented from recording for 4 1⁄2 years. Knight attended Tennessee State University, where he studied chemistry and sang with the Fairlanes, a vocal trio.
In 1967, after Knight was seen performing with the Fairlanes in Nashville at a Vanderbilt University fraternity, he was offered a contract as a solo artist by the Rising Sons label. His first recording, "Everlasting Love", written by label owners Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, was a success, reaching number 14 on the US R&B chart and 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. This enduring song was an even bigger success in the UK the following year when a version by Love Affair reached No. 1, ironically preventing Knight's version from progressing further than No. 40.
Knight scored two further pop hits at home, "Blessed Are The Lonely" and "Isn't It Lonely Together". In 1973/1974, thanks to heavy rotation by Northern soul music admiring deejays he hit the UK Singles Chart again with the re-issue of his late 1968 recording "Love on a Mountain Top", reaching #10 in early 1974 in the UK Singles Charts. The song was also written by Cason and Gayden. The re-issued "Everlasting Love" went even higher in the UK in 1974, reaching the Top 20. His final UK chart record was "Better Get Ready For Love" which reached #53 in May 1974.
He also worked for Vanderbilt University as a chemical lab technician, a chemistry teacher, and a member of the grounds crew.
Knight died at home in Tennessee, aged 72.
Everlasting Love
Robert Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went away just when you needed me so
Filled with regret I come back beggin' you
Forgive, forget, Wwere's the love we once knew?
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl to be my bride
You'll never be denied everlasting love
Everlasting love
Real love will last forever
Real love will last forever
Ah, ah
Ah, ah
Where life's river flows, no one really knows
'Til someone's there to show the way to lasting love
Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine
You always will be mine, it's everlasting love
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong,
We have our very own everlasting love
Real love will last forever
Real love will last forever
Ooh
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl to be my bride
You'll never be denied everlasting love
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong, we have our very own
Everlasting love
The lyrics of Robert Knight's song “Everlasting Love” tell the story of a person who left someone they cared about in a moment of need and now seeks forgiveness and a chance to rekindle their love. The singer acknowledges that their actions caused harm and left a void in their partner's life, but they have come to realize that their love truly is everlasting. The lyrics are a plea for a second chance, for forgiveness, and an expression of the depth of the singer's affection.
The song's chorus emphasizes the idea of everlasting love, a love that transcends time and endures through all the trials and tribulations the couple may face. The idea that only true love lasts forever is a common theme in love songs, but Knight's interpretation is particularly poignant. He acknowledges that hearts can go astray and that people make mistakes, but the love shared between two people can be a powerful force that endures long after everything else has faded away.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts go astray, leaving hurt when they go
People's hearts can wander and cause pain when they leave.
I went away just when you needed me so
I left at a time when you really needed me.
Filled with regret I come back beggin' you
I feel a deep sense of remorse and I'm hoping you'll take me back.
Forgive, forget, where's the love we once knew?
Can we put the past behind us and start anew with the love we used to have?
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize here I stand
If you take a good look, you'll see that I'm right here in front of you.
With my everlasting love
I love you with a love that will never die.
Need you by my side, girl to be my bride
I want you to be my partner in life and to marry me.
You'll never be denied everlasting love
You'll always have my love no matter what.
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong, we have our very own everlasting love
Our love is special and strong, and will endure even when other loves fade away.
Real love will last forever
True love will never die.
Real love will last forever
True love will never die.
Where life's river flows, no one really knows
It's difficult to predict where life will take us.
'Til someone's there to show the way to lasting love
But, finding someone who can guide us to lasting love can make all the difference.
Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shines
Our love will shine like the sun and never stop.
You always will be mine, it's everlasting love
You will always belong to me and my love for you will never die.
Ooh
An expression of emotion and feeling.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mac Gayden, Buzz Cason
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thomashodgson22
I asked my younger sister to get a love affair copy of everlasting love for me and she bought this by mistake. Boy was I ever glad she did.
@roncoates7648
Just found this video and have listened to it 8 consecutive times. I was privileged to be Bob's friend and coworker at Vanderbilt from 1971-1976. His real name was Robert Peebles. He was a wonderful friend and he shared with me all his fabulous stories from the late 1960's, touring with Aretha and Al Green. During the time I knew him he never quit recording, trying for a follow up hit. He put out a second album and had a successful tour in Europe in about 1973. I'll never forget the party we threw upon his return . By the way, he knew his chemistry too.
@jeffreynichols5366
The best of the half dozen or more versions of this wonderful song.
@compulsiveguy55
This version rarely gets played, Robert Knight had this 1967 hit, and this version certainly deserves it's share of airtime
@elcoyote9410
Hacked my girlfriends account? Fuck, why bother? If your at that point in a relationship you, her, or it is fucked. Just be single
@lokisan100
I had to choreograph a dance for physical education class and I did it to this song.
@mikecroaro519
I heard this version on the radio just 1 time. I believe it was KRIM-FM in Tuscon, AZ circa 1995.
@maureenmcgovern6119
Thanks Rick!
@dlsofsetx
True!
@stephentorres1444
Every generation needs to keep this song alive