Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22… Read Full Bio ↴Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22 March 1936; died 13 September 2023 ) was a British singer-songwriter and musician remembered for his eclectic mix of folk music and popular song, his baritone singing voice, and his trademark whistling skills.

He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).

Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".

Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.

Unchained Melody
Roger Whittaker Lyrics

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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
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me

I need your love
I need your love

God speed your love
To me

Overall Meaning

The song "Unchained Melody" by Roger Whittaker is a love ballad that expresses the longing and yearning that comes with missing a loved one. The lyrics are powerful and emotive, reflecting the depth of emotions that the singer is experiencing. The opening lines, "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time" immediately draw the listener in, conveying the singer's deep sense of loss and the intense desire they feel to be reunited with their beloved. The lyrics go on to describe the passage of time, with the singer noting how slowly it seems to pass when they are missing their loved one.

The second verse of the song sees the singer expressing their need for their partner's love and imploring them to "God speed your love to me." This line highlights the urgency that the singer feels in wanting to be reunited with their partner. The subsequent verses are filled with nature-based imagery, with the singer describing how "lonely rivers flow to the sea" and "wait for me," conveying the notion that the natural world itself seems to be echoing the singer's desire to be reunited with their love.

Overall, "Unchained Melody" is a deeply romantic and evocative song that captures the intensity of missing someone you love. The lyrics are beautifully written, and Roger Whittaker's soulful vocals serve to underscore the song's emotional resonance.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch
I have missed your presence and been deeply yearning for the intimacy of your embrace

A long, lonely time
This feeling of absence and longing has been persistent and has lasted for an extended and solitary duration

Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much
The passage of time seems to drag on and can have a profound impact, both positive and negative, on one's emotions and state of being

Are you still mine?
I am questioning whether our connection is still strong, and if you still feel the same way towards me

I need your love
I am dependent on your love to feel complete and happy

God speed your love
I pray for your love to reach me as soon as possible and for us to be reunited

To me
I want this love to be directed towards me and to fill the void I am currently experiencing

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
The natural flow of rivers can be analogous to the flow of emotions, as they ultimately make their way towards an open and vast destination

To the open arms of the sea
This vast destination can provide a welcoming and nurturing environment to embrace these emotions

Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me
I can relate to the waiting and yearning of these rivers, as I too am longing for something or someone to return to me

I'll be coming home, wait for me
I assure you that I will return to you and ask that you continue to hold space for me until that time comes

Contributed by Henry Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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