The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, a… Read Full Bio ↴The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, and they were the very first girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the quartet were Shirley Owens (who was the lead singer for the most part), Doris Coley, Beverly Lee, and Addie "Micki" Harris. The quartet formed in New Jersey in 1958, and went on to release a string of hits including "Baby It's You", "Mama Said", and the #1 Pop hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy". Their "Sha La La" became an international hit when covered by the British group Manfred Mann, and "Boys" was covered by [artsit]the Beatles (Ringo Starr singing lead).The Beatles also covered "Baby It's You" on their "Please Please Me" album. Although they had no more charting hits after 1967, the Shirelles continued recording for a small but devoted audience well into the 1970s and continued to tour and perform into the early 1980s. In 1968, Coley left the group to remarry and raise her family, and the group continued as a trio. In 1975, she returned only to replace Owens who departed to begin a solo career. On June 10, 1982, after a live concert in Atlanta, Harris succumbed to a heart attack (age 42); she was replaced by Louie Bethune. Shortly, the group went into semi-retirement, though they did accept an invitation to record backup vocals for Dionne Warwick in the late 1980s. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. On February 4, 2000, Coley lost a battle with breast cancer (age 58). The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

It's Love That Really Counts
The Shirelles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo)

Some other guy may give me diamonds and pearls
The kind of things that mean so much to some girls
But in the long run, baby, it's love that really counts
Believe me, it's love that really counts
And baby, after loving you
I'm here to say that no one else will do

Who cares if you don't show me Paris or Rome?
As long as you are here, I'm happy at home
'Cause in the long run, baby, it's love that really counts
Believe me, it's love that really counts
When other loves have come and gone
This love of ours will soon go on and on

So take me in your arms
And darling kiss me like only you know how to do
It's love that really counts, love that really counts
I'm tellin' you

(Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo)

Overall Meaning

The song "It's Love That Really Counts" by The Shirelles is a simple ode to the true essence of love. The lyrics suggest that materialistic things may come and go, but in the end, it's the love that truly matters. The first verse expresses that another man may give the singer expensive gifts like diamonds and pearls, which might be important to other girls, but it's not important to her. She states that what matters is the love shared by two people. The second verse goes on to say that it doesn't matter if the singer's partner doesn't take her to Paris or Rome because her partner's presence is what makes her happy at home. The repetitive "doo doo doo's" in the song, played with a catchy tune, add to the song's easily comprehensible, upbeat vibe.

The upbeat melody and the lyrics talking about the importance of love made "It's Love That Really Counts" a hit in 1962. The song went on to reach No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Shirelles, who had established themselves as a dynamic girl group in the early 1960s, became one of the originators of the girl group sound that would influence future artists. The song was also covered by Diana Ross in 1978.

Line by Line Meaning

Some other guy may give me diamonds and pearls
There may be other guys who offer me material things like diamonds and pearls

The kind of things that mean so much to some girls
For some girls, material things like diamonds and pearls are very important

But in the long run, baby, it's love that really counts
However, in the end, what really matters is love

Believe me, it's love that really counts
Trust me, love is what truly matters

And baby, after loving you
After being with and loving only you

I'm here to say that no one else will do
I must say that nobody else could replace you

Who cares if you don't show me Paris or Rome?
It doesn't matter if you don't take me to fancy destinations like Paris or Rome

As long as you are here, I'm happy at home
As long as you are with me, I am happy staying at home

'Cause in the long run, baby, it's love that really counts
Because in the end, what really matters is love

Believe me, it's love that really counts
Trust me, love is what truly matters

When other loves have come and gone
When other loves have appeared and disappeared

This love of ours will soon go on and on
Our love will continue to thrive and last

So take me in your arms
So hold me tightly in your embrace

And darling kiss me like only you know how to do
And kiss me in the way that only you know how

It's love that really counts, love that really counts
It's love that truly matters, love that truly matters

I'm tellin' you
I am telling you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT F. BACHARACH, HAL DAVID

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@giedmich

3y↑53

The Avalanches brought me here

@agent7763

3y↑8

That guy in the comment section sent me here

@wiseguy100

3y↑2

@@agent7763 Same here lol. He wasn't wrong.

@agent7763

@Second Wizards good to see you again

@skyavalanche

Wish The Avalanches hadn’t opened “We Will Always Love You” with the opening of this song as well, but rather took us by surprise with it a ways in.
IMHO