1) The Spring… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) The Springfields was a British pop-folk vocal trio of the early 1960s remembered as the launch pad for singer Dusty Springfield.
2) The Springfields was an American indie-pop band from New England active between 1988 and 1991.
1. The Springfields was a British pop-folk vocal trio in the early 1960s, who had success both in the UK, USA and Ireland, but are now best remembered as the launch pad for singer Dusty Springfield.
The trio formed in 1960, when Mary "Dusty" O’Brien joined her brother Dion O'Brien and Tim Feild, who had been working as a duo,"The Kensington Squares". Dion became Tom Springfield, and Mary became Dusty Springfield. Feild was later replaced by Mike Hurst.
Tom Springfield was a songwriter and arranger with a wide knowledge of folk music, and the group had strong vocal harmonies and Dusty’s powerful lead. They were signed to Philips Records and released their first single, "Dear John," in 1961, followed by two UK chart hits with "Breakaway" and "Bambino" – like their other records, produced by Johnny Franz.
In 1962, their version of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" – which surprisingly was not released as a single in the UK - reached the US Top 20, the first single by a British group ever to do so (predating the Tornados’ “Telstar” by two months, and the Beatles by 15 months). The record also reached # 1 in Australia.
At the end of 1962 they had the biggest hit of their career in Britain, "Island of Dreams", which reached # 5 in the charts, as did the follow-up "Say I Won’t Be There". By this time the Springfields were one of the most popular groups in the UK. However, Dusty Springfield felt increasingly hemmed in by the group's image as a folk act and Tom's lead role within the trio, and towards the end of 1963 decided to leave for a solo career.
Tom Springfield and Mike Hurst also developed successful careers in the music industry, while Tim Feild (as Reshad Feild) later became a prominent mystic and writer.
2: The Springfields was an American indie-pop band from New England, USA, related to Choo Choo Train and Velvet Crush. They released several 7" singles between 1988 and 1991 on Bus Stop, Sarah, Seminal Twang; with Matthew Sweet producing their Sunflower single.
Discography:
Sunflower (7") 1988 on The Bus Stop Label - BUS 1
Sunflower (7") Jul 1988 on Sarah Records - SARAH 010
Mini-LP [unreleased] (LP) on Subway Organization - SUBORG 06
Wonder / Tomorrows Ends Today (7") Feb 1991 on Sarah Records - SARAH 040
Reach For The Stars (7") 1991 on Summershine Records - SHINE 005
She Swirls Around Me (7") 1991 on Picture Book Records - PB005
Tranquil (7") on Seminal Twang Records
They were also featured on many Sarah compilations including the label's final release There and Back Again Lane.
You Don
The Springfields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you would always stay
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
Don't you see that now you've gone
And I'm left here on my own
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
But believe me I'll never tie you down
Left alone with just a memory
Life seems dead and quite unreal
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand believe me, believe me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand, believe me, believe me
The Springfields’ 1966 hit You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, originally an Italian song by Pino Donaggio and titled "Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te)", has become a classic anthem for unrequited love. This heartbreak-filled ballad is an emotional ode, expressing the singer's feelings of loss and desperation after a breakup. The lyrics reveal a narrator who is left alone after his lover has left him, and he is now forced to follow and beg for her love to return.
The first verse outlines the pain of being left behind, with the singer revealing how their lover left despite making promises to stay. The chorus echoes the sentiment, with the singer pleading with their former lover not to say they still love him but to remain close and not leave him alone. The second verse doubles down on this idea by acknowledging that being left alone is torturous, and the chorus returns to offer a compromise, with the singer understanding that their lover may have to leave but desperate for them to remain wherever possible.
This song is a sad, poignant representation of a relationship that has ended and the pain one feels when it’s over. However, it also serves to remind people that just because love may not always be in plain sight, it does not mean that the love and feelings that once existed cannot remain. It shows that it's not always about the words that are spoken, but instead the presence and company one can provide to help heal a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
When I said I needed you
Back then, I let you know that I needed your presence and support.
You said you would always stay
You promised that you would always be there for me.
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
It wasn't me who changed and ruined our relationship, it was you. And now that you've left me, I feel the consequences of your actions.
Don't you see that now you've gone
Can't you see that now that you're gone,
And I'm left here on my own
I'm left here on my own,
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
I have to go after you and beg you to come back home to me.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to say that you love me, just be there for me.
You don't have to stay forever I will understand
You don't have to commit to me forever, I understand.
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
I want you to believe that I truly love you, and I can't help it.
But believe me I'll never tie you down
But also believe me when I say that I'll never force you to be with me if you don't want to.
Left alone with just a memory
Being left alone with just memories,
Life seems dead and quite unreal
My life seems lifeless and surreal.
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
All there is left is loneliness, and I don't feel anything else.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to declare your love for me, just be there for me.
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to commit to me forever,
I will understand believe me, believe me
I will accept your decision, please believe me.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to declare your love for me, just be there for me.
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to commit to me forever.
I will understand, believe me, believe me
I will accept your decision, please believe me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Giuseppe Donaggio, Simon Napier-Bell, Vito Pallavicini, Vicki Heather Wickham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓮𝓵 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓮 ℳ𝓒
The lady singer in this group Mary O'Brien known by her stage name Dusty Springfield later became a major star when the group broke up. She died at a young age from breast cancer. Her last wish was to return to Ireland to die. Her ashes are scattered at the Cliffs of Mother, County Clare, Ireland...R.I.P. Dusty 🥀
m miller
The man usually to the right of the picture is her brother.
Efferpheasants
Born in London England.
Linda Berg
The Springfields' version of this song is by far the best and Dusty's voice makes it so!
Mary Davidson
Also, her brothers harmonizing.
Sir Robin.
paul austin sorry .. can't agree …. I think Dusty nailed it. ( but it's all down to choice and it would be a boring world if we all thought the same. )
Margaret Campbell
I agree the Springfields nailed it especially with Dusty
Dan Ofw12
paul austin p
howie9751
This more like a group sing-a-long then a woman telling you about her troubles.
pattigee1
A huge hit in North America, still love this song - the lyrics, the rhythm, and Dusty's gorgeous, powerful voice. Thanks.