She now resides in Monaco and has recently sold her London apartment. Many of its furnishings were auctioned for charity. Two very popular 'Audiences With Shirley Bassey' have aired on British TV, the most recent being in March 2006.
In 2006, UK retailer Marks and Spencer hired Bassey for their Christmas advertising campaign, with Dame Shirley singing a cover of P!nk's 'Get the Party Started'.
In late 2009 Bassey released 'The Performance' her first studio album for two decades, which was released in a maelstrom of anticipation. Still popular well into one of the longest and most illustrious musical careers in British and indeed international history, Bassey is considered by Brits to be a national treasure.
As Long As He Needs Me
Shirley Bassey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know where I must be
I'll cling on steadfastly
As long as he needs me
As long as life is long
I'll love him, right or wrong
And somehow I'll be strong
If you are lonely then you will know
When someone needs you, you love them so
I won't betray his trust
Though people say I must
I've got to stay true just
As long as he needs me
If you are lonely then you will know
When someone needs you, you love them so
I won't betray his trust
Though people say I must
I've got to stay true just
As long as he needs me
The lyrics to Shirley Bassey's song, "As Long as He Needs Me", can be interpreted as the unconditional love and loyalty of a woman who is deeply committed to her man. The opening verses set the theme that her love and devotion are as unshakeable as her commitment to be by his side for as long as he needs her. The bridge of the song suggests that the woman is aware of the loneliness that comes with not having someone to love, and that her commitment to be with her man is fueled by an understanding of how important it is to have that kind of connection.
The closing verses suggest that the woman is aware of the possibility of betrayal, but she is not swayed by what other people may say or the assumptions that might be made about her relationship. She must stay true to her man and maintain her loyalty as long as he needs her. The lyrics are powerful and suggest that love and commitment can be a guiding force in navigating the difficulties of life, and a source of strength in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
As long as he needs me
I'll stick around as long as he needs me, wherever he needs me.
I know where I must be
I know that wherever he needs me is where I must be.
I'll cling on steadfastly
I'll hold on to him with unwavering loyalty and devotion.
As long as life is long
For as long as I live, I'll love him no matter what.
I'll love him, right or wrong
No matter what he does or how he acts, I'll continue to love him.
And somehow I'll be strong
I'll find strength within myself to stay loyal and true to him.
If you are lonely then you will know
If you've ever been lonely, you know that when someone needs you, you love them deeply.
When someone needs you, you love them so
When someone needs you, you love them with all your heart and soul.
I won't betray his trust
No matter what others say or do, I won't betray his trust.
Though people say I must
Even if others try to persuade me to betray his trust, I won't do it.
I've got to stay true just
My only choice is to stay true to him for as long as he needs me.
As long as he needs me
For as long as he needs my love and loyalty, I'll be there for him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LIONEL BART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
grand73am
Heard this song on a 2 and 1/2 men episode called "a little clammy and none too fresh". Good to hear it again after so many years.
Shirley Bassey Music and Vids
This song was a huge hit for Shirley back in the early 60's. It is a classic that has been recorded and performed by a multitude of singers over the last 7 decades...
Pam Evans
@Shirley Bassey Music and Vids m,
Frank Jennings
Love this song. Lyrics work with "He" or "She", which is entirely appropriate.
True love is like that you know. You put in everything you have. ❤️
Sharron Leese
just heard this for the first time, absolutely wow
Jerry Munroe
I just heard this today and I am 66 years old. I love Bassey and cannot believe I have never heard this by her. I equally love Judy Garland's version of this and I remember her singing it on her TV show in the early 1960's.
Stephen Elliott
This song sends shivers through my spine outstanding performance no will sing that song as good as Dame Shirley
paul b
Remember my dad having this single on the columbia label,im 63 now and still love this.
Paul Adams
This is a genuine show-stopper song that's been covered by many accomplished singers but this is the best version for me. Must say I always though SB a tad over-theatrical on stage but the natural clarity&phrasing in her voice is astonishing... and all the more impressive considering the recording is from 1960!
Shirley Bassey Music and Vids
Paul: Your music understanding is great, and others agree with you. When this song came out, it remained on the charts for 6+ Months! When Shirley first started the business back in 1953 the Vaudville era had come to a close, but entertainers from that era were still performing. After production owners discovered that Shirley could sing, she gave up her chorus girl dancing shoes and was moved to the front. But, with the influence of these Vaudville performers, Shirley learned to not just stand there like a tree and sing, but to move her arms, eyes, hands, etc. Shirley is thus one of, or maybe the only singer who sings this style of music to incorporate these movements into her songs; it is her way of giving life and emotion to every song she sings. To this day, Dame Shirley Bassey fans love her unique performing style, although her movements now are not quite as noticeable. Many of today's singers dance through their songs and/or have tons of backup performers.