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I Would Not Be Me (Without Your Love)
trees would still be trees
even if the sun didn’t shine
the sky would still be blue
even if the clocks did not keep time
July would follow June
even if the birds ceased to fly
but I would not be me
without your love
friends would still be friends
even if the stars didn’t glow
the babies still would cry
even if the breeze didn’t blow
and home would still be sweet
even if the road never ends
but I would not be me
without your love
it doesn’t matter
if the world should end today
as long as I’ve got you
the world can go away
a butterfly could fly
even if the grass didn’t grow
but I just can’t be me
without your love
(instrumental)
it doesn’t matter
if the world should end today
as long as I’ve got you
the world can go away
this song will still go on
even though the music will end
but I just can’t be me
no, I would not be me
you know, I just can’t be me
without your love
Reviews
Not only driving down the road, but whistling and humming too. ❤ —Marilyn T.
LOVE IT! —Tammy M. S.
I love this so much, such a happy song and Dave’s whistling is great! —Tammy P.
Your music is so heartwarming. Cathy and I love the song —Evette T.
How delightful and uplifting…thanks, Doug. Great whistling David. —BJ L.
How funny. I listened to it yesterday on YouTube and hadn’t seen your post here yet. I commented that it was reminiscent of “Driving Down the Road Song”! I guess I was right! —Diane S.
Sweeeeet!!!! —Rick M.
Brightened up a cold, rainy day in MN! —Kris T.
I love this one! —Katlin McC.
Gorgeous. Just what I needed! —Marie M.
Well, that was fun – I love it! I’m chair-dancing here! Thanks for something so happy — and David’s whistling was good! I can’t whistle a decent tune to save my life, but I remember my Grandma whistling all the time. —Katie C.
Doug, you and your love just brightened my day. —Barb N.
Charming!! Still smiling. Thank you Doug…and David! —Carol L. S.
Oh that was awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing!! —Sharon O. M.
Love it! It has the same joyful feeling as “Thankful for the Sunshine,” which I also love! —Dina H. L.
Love it. Very nice. Did u have to fly in the orchestra —Michael K.
Wonderful work, Doug. Just wonderful. —David B.
2020 Notes
I think it’s time for a joyful one! For me, at least, there’s not as much motivation to write a song when I’m feeling normal, or blasé. It’s usually when I’m euphoric, or when I’m depressed or upset about something. Think about it. When you feel normal, you don’t really need any special way to express that. Mundane language works just fine. But when you’re in the dumps, or on the mountaintop, how do you express that? Guess that’s why so many of my songs tend to hail from the clouds—or the pits.
There’s a whole series of songs in that “cloud” genre I took to calling “drivin’ down the road” songs. They all have a shuffle, triplet rhythm, sunny musical disposition, a very happy-go-lucky feel, and are extremely conducive to drivin’ down the road—at least I think so. I recorded “Drivin’ Down the Road Song, No. 1” on the I’ve Been Freed album. No. 2 and No. 3 were both on the Singer in the King’s Service album, and by then I was forced into handing out other titles: No. 2 was “Thankful for the Sunshine” and No. 3 was “So Far To Go.” Nos. 4 and 6 haven’t been recorded yet, but here’s No. 5 for your consideration: “I Would Not Be Me (Without Your Love).”
If you can’t tell after listening that the Bacharach-David-Warwick pop music triumvirate were at the top of my music hero heap, I’ll be very disappointed in you. Try listening to Dionne’s “Who Gets the Guy,” or “Odds and Ends.” I used those as reference tracks while working on this one, and you’ll be able to tell how much I listened to them! They were two of the trio’s later collaborations, and were both incredibly infectious, melody-, lyrics- and performance-wise.
I mimic one of Dionne’s signature vocal turns at the end of each bridge, and also give a nod or two to Burt, especially in the sax part, although I thought of him while I was arranging almost every part. I won’t compare my lyrics to David’s. They’re pretty simplistic, but I hope some of his playfulness made it into a few of the lines. You’ll notice I’ve added a little more gospel “chording” style (as my Aunt Leota called it) in this song, too.
You could obviously sing this song to anyone you love, but for me, it’s a prayer of thanks to the Lord, first and foremost. And no, when I say “the world can go away,” I don’t mean that everybody else and their problems aren’t important (especially nowadays). I just mean that when you realize that the Creator of the Universe loves you, all the problems you usually worry about don’t seem quite so problematic. You realize that without God protecting you, guiding you at every turn, well, you just wouldn’t be who you are today. You wouldn’t be yourself, plain and simple. All this is true for those you truly love who truly love you, too, of course. (Not surprising, since we’re made in God’s image.)
Anyway, give this one a try, roll on down the road, kick up your heels and let us see that smile…
I simply have to dedicate this one to Susan Wood, my niece, who has requested Drivin’ Down the Road Song, No. 2 (see above), more than everyone else put together through the years. She even requested it during our last visit to South Carolina, after her third son, Jonah, was baptized by my Davey. We found an old upright in one of the Sunday School rooms, and let her rip. Enjoy, Susan!
And speaking of Davey… Thanks so much, Davey, for whistling your heart out on this. I can’t tell you how many times that beautiful little whistle of yours has lightened my heart!
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