He'll Have To Go
Winston Francis Lyrics
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Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you're with another man,
If you want me, answer "yes" or "no,"
Darling, I will understand.
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
The lyrics of Winston Francis's song He'll Have To Go tells a story of a man who is on the phone with his lover who is with another man. He is asking her to put her "sweet lips a little closer to the phone" and pretend that they are together alone. He wants to know if his lover truly loves him or if the other man is holding her the way he does. He is willing to wait for her to make up her mind, but he needs to know if he should hang up or if she will tell the other man that he'll have to go.
The song is a classic example of a country love song, but Francis's version is a reggae cover of Jim Reeves's original. In this version, Francis's soulful voice gives the song new life, taking it to another level of emotional intensity. The lyrics of the song are simple, yet poignant, packed with heartfelt emotion and sincerity. They speak to the universal experience of love and longing, making the song relatable to people from all walks of life.
The song was originally written by Joe and Audrey Allison and later recorded by Jim Reeves in 1959. Since then, it has been covered by various artists, including Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and Bryan Ferry. Interestingly, the song was written from a woman's perspective, but when Jim Reeves recorded it, he changed the lyrics to reflect a man's point of view. This changed the meaning of some of the lyrics, but the basic theme of longing and love remained the same.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Get as close to me as possible through the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
Act like we're alone and together.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
I'll ask the person to lower the music.
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Tell your friend to leave and stay with me instead.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Talk to me secretly and reveal if you really love me.
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Or is he holding you in the same way that I do?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
Although love can be confusing, make a decision, I need to know.
Should I hang up, or will you tell him he'll have to go?
Should I end the phone call or will you ask him to leave?
You can't say the words I want to hear
You can't say what I want to hear.
While you're with another man,
When you're with someone else,
If you want me, answer "yes" or "no",
If you want to be with me, say either 'yes' or 'no'.
Darling, I will understand.
I'll comprehend your decision.
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Get as close to me as possible through the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
Act like we're alone and together.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
I'll ask the person to lower the music.
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Tell your friend to leave and stay with me instead.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Allison, Audrey Allison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind