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.
When I Fall in Love
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I am living in the past
But when I meet the right one
I know that I'll be true
My first love will be the last
When I fall in love it will be forever
Or I'll never fall in love
Love is ended before it began
And too many moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun
When I give my heart it will be completely
Or I'll never, never, never give my heart
And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I give my heart to you
And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I give my heart to you
The lyrics of Roger Whittaker's "When I Fall in Love" express the singer's beliefs on love and faithfulness. The first verse starts with him acknowledging that he might be perceived as old-fashioned, since his ideas about commitment and loyalty in a relationship seem outdated to modern society. However, he believes that he is not living in the past, but just values morals and true love. He then goes on to describe how he knows he will be faithful to the right person, the first and last love of his life.
The chorus, "When I fall in love, it will be forever or I'll never fall in love," is a declaration of the importance he places on finding true love that lasts a lifetime. He recognizes the challenges that come with the modern world, where love seems to end before it even starts, and attributes it to the lack of commitment and genuineness in people. He fears that too many people are taking love for granted and not cherishing it like they should.
The last verse expresses the conditions that he has for giving his heart away, "when I give my heart, it will be completely," emphasizing how important it is for him to feel the same love and commitment from his partner. He knows that when he finds someone who feels the same way he does, it will be the right person to whom he can pledge his heart and remain devoted to until the end of time.
In conclusion, the lyrics of Roger Whittaker's "When I Fall in Love" are filled with a strong sense of traditionalism and commitment. It is a love song that speaks to the eternal longing of finding true love that lasts a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'm old fashioned, feeling as I do
Perhaps I'm too traditional, but I feel strongly about this
Maybe I am living in the past
Maybe I'm not adapting well to the modern ways
But when I meet the right one
But when I find my true love
I know that I'll be true
I will remain faithful and loyal
My first love will be the last
I will love this person forever
When I fall in love it will be forever
When I'm in love, I'm committed for life
Or I'll never fall in love
Alternatively, I might never fall in love
In a restless world like this is
In a world that's constantly changing
Love is ended before it began
Romantic feelings often fade quickly
And too many moonlight kisses
And too many moments of passion
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun
Seem to lose their spark over time
When I give my heart it will be completely
When I love, I'll love unconditionally
Or I'll never, never, never give my heart
If I can't love like that, I won't love at all
And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
The moment I sense that you love like me
Is when I give my heart to you
I'll surrender my heart to you and love you forever
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Heyman, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nigel
on Jenny
I'm not sure by any means, but I wonder whether taking the midnight train is ultimately a metaphor for a more final journey. I also wonder if RW had someone specific in mind whose fate prompted this powerful song. I like it very much.