Wooden Heart
The Chordettes Lyrics
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Please don't break my heart in two
That′s not hard to do
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
And if you say goodbye
Then I know that I would cry
Maybe I would die
′Cause I don′t have a wooden heart
It was always you from the start
Treat me nice, treat me good
Treat me like you really should
′Cause I'm not made of wood
And I don′t have a wooden heart
Muss I denn, muss I denn
Zum stadt heraus
Stadt heraus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?
Muss I denn, muss I denn
Zum stadt heraus
Stadt heraus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Sei mir gut, sei mir gut
Sei mir wie du wirklich sollst
Wie du wirklich sollst
′Cause I don't have a wooden heart
The Chordettes' song Wooden Heart tells the tale of an individual who is deeply in love with someone who appears to be unresponsive to their feelings. The song opens with the plea - "Can't you see, I love you?" - imploring the object of the singer's affection to recognize their feelings. The singer goes on to make their vulnerability known, begging their prospective lover not to break their heart. Although the situation seems dire - "That's not hard to do" - the singer notes that they are not emotionless or immune to the pain - "Cause I don't have a wooden heart." The chorus reiterates the stakes of the situation, as the singer notes that if their love is not returned, they could be brought to tears and, potentially, even death - "Maybe I would die, 'cause I don't have a wooden heart."
Throughout the song, the lyrics make it clear that the singer is all-in on the relationship - "There's no strings upon this love of mine, it was always you from the start." They beseech their lover to treat them well, referencing their vulnerability again - "Treat me nice, treat me good, treat me like you really should, 'cause I'm not made of wood." The second verse sees the first line repeated in German - "Muss I denn, muss I denn zum Stadtle hinaus" - before asking the object of the singer's affection if they will remain behind while the singer leaves. The verse echoes the sentiment of the chorus - the singer's love is genuine and powerful, and rejecting it could have major consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Can′t you see, I love you?
I am deeply in love with you, can't you see?
Please don't break my heart in two
Please don't hurt me so much that my heart breaks into pieces
That′s not hard to do
That can happen very easily
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
I have genuine feelings and emotions like any human being
And if you say goodbye
If you leave me and say goodbye
Then I know that I would cry
I would be devastated and would shed tears
Maybe I would die
I may even lose my life due to the pain of losing you
'Cause I don′t have a wooden heart
I don't have a heart made of wood that can't feel anything
There's no strings upon this love of mine
My love for you is pure and free from any conditions or constraints
It was always you from the start
I have been in love with you from the beginning of our relationship
Treat me nice, treat me good
Please show me kindness and treat me well
Treat me like you really should
Treat me in the way that someone in a loving relationship deserves to be treated
'Cause I'm not made of wood
I have feelings and emotions like any other human being
Muss I denn, muss I denn
Zum stadt heraus
Stadt heraus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?
Must I then, must I then
Go out into the town
And you, my love, stay here?
There's no strings upon this love of mine
My love for you is unconditional and not controlled by anyone
It was always you from the start
I have loved you from the beginning and my feelings have never changed
Sei mir gut, sei mir gut
Sei mir wie du wirklich sollst
Wie du wirklich sollst
′Cause I don't have a wooden heart
Be good to me, be good to me
Treat me as you really should
As you really should
Because I am not emotionless and have genuine feelings for you
Writer(s): Fred Wise, Kay Twomey, Berthold Kaempfert, Ben Weisman
Contributed by Andrew P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Neil Macdonald
Love this beautiful version. So clean and melodic.
alina anohhina
Can't you see, I love you?
Please don't break my heart in two
That's not hard to do
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
And if you say goodbye
Then I know that I would cry
Maybe I would die
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Treat me nice, treat me good
Treat me like you really should
'Cause I'm not made of wood
And I don't have a wooden heart
Muss I denn, muss I denn
Zum stadt heraus
Stadt heraus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?
Muss I denn, muss I denn
Zum stadt heraus
Stadt heraus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Sei mir gut, sei mir gut
Sei mir wie du wirklich sollst
Wie du wirklich sollst
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
David Bondehagen
Actually formed in 1945. Carol Buschman replaced original member Alice Buschman in 1946. When Jinny Osborne returned after having a baby, Marjie Needham filled in with the group when needed. Joyce Weston replaced Nancy Overton ca. 1962-63
David Bondehagen
Actually formed in 1945. Carol Buschman replaced original member Alice Buschmann in 1946. Joyce Weston replaced Nancy Needham ca. 1963
mrblindfreddy9999
got the book will clean up the bio one day cheers Dave
David Bondehagen
Oops. Nancy Overton not Nancy Needham
David Bondehagen
There’s a book? I’ll have to find a copy
David Bondehagen
I got the book. I should have done better research as I based my info on the beginnings of the group on an interview I saw in which Dottie Schwartz said that Jinny Osborne asked her to join a quartet she was starting along with sisters Alice Buschman and Janet Buschman Ertel right after Dottie graduated high school which would have been 1945. At any rate, Carol joined in 1947. Interesting that the book is titled “The Chordettes of Sheboygan “ with a photo on the cover of the Chordettes ca. 1953 when the group included recent replacements Lynn Evans of Youngstown,Ohio and Marjie Needham from Chicago instead of the original girls from Sheboygan— but I get it, the group began in Sheboygan.
mrblindfreddy9999
@David Bondehagen Wonder who did the Arranging they were very unique cheers Dave