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Ramblings of a retiree in France
Song Lyric Sunday #19
Jim Adams of Song Lyric Sunday Challenge gives us plenty of notice about each Sunday’s prompts. For today, I needed to think what tracks are in my record library with Fiancé/Husband/Lover/Wife in the lyrics. There are lots of candidates, particularly for “Lover,” but again I don’t want to pick one of the more obvious ones. Instead, I’ve chosen I Don’t Want a Lover by Texas.
Texas are a Glaswegian pop rock band, founded in 1986 by Johnny McElhone (formerly of Altered Images) and lead vocalist Sharleen Spiteri. The band took their name from the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas.
This was the debut single from the band’s first album Southside. Released in January 1989, it peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart, and No. 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as top-40 positions in various countries worldwide. The track was remixed in 2001 by Stargate and DJ Stonebridge to promote the band’s The Greatest Hits compilation album. The song was also featured on an in-game radio station (Vice City FM) on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.
The band’s fortunes changed in 1997 with the release of their White on Blonde album which entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and has become their biggest seller to date, certified six-times platinum in the UK. The follow up album, The Hush (1999), was also successful, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart and certified triple platinum. The band’s Greatest Hits album, released in 2000, was another big seller, again debuting at number one and also being certified six-times platinum. Texas would go on to release a further two studio albums, Careful What You Wish For in 2003, and Red Book in 2005, both of which were certified gold in the UK. After the release of Red Book and a tour to support the album’s release, Texas went on hiatus. Lead singer Sharleen Spiteri launched a solo career, releasing her debut solo album, Melody, in 2008.
As of 2020, Texas’ sales were in excess of 40 million records. They have had thirteen UK top-ten singles, three UK number one albums and eight UK top ten albums, including their ninth and latest studio album, Jump on Board which was released in May 2017, debuting atop of the Scottish Albums Chart and within the top ten in France, the UK and Belgium. A new album called Hi will be released shortly.
Lyrics: I Don’t Want a Lover
I don’t want a lover
I just need a friend
I don’t want a lover
I just need a friend
You can’t just leave me
To face life on my own
I know you don’t love me no more
I knew this day it would come
Even when it cuts so deep
It’s true I still want you
But the harder I try
The more I seem to lose
I don’t want a lover
I just need a friend
I’ve had time to recover
Now that I know it wasn’t love
It’s always a different story
When it’s me who’s in the wrong
But you can’t have it all
‘Cause I’m the one who’s strong
I’ve already been burnt before
Once but never again
I know the time will come
That’s when you need me then
I don’t want a lover
I just need a friend
I’ve had time to recover
Now that I know it wasn’t love
I don’t want a lover
I just need a prayer
I know you never cared
Now that I know it wasn’t love
You don’t even care
About what I’m saying
You don’t even think
What you’re doing
All you see is what you want it to be
But in there there’s just no room for me
I don’t want a lover
I just need a friend
I’ve had time to recover
Now that I know it wasn’t love
You don’t even care
About what I’m saying
You don’t even think
What you’re doing
All you see is what you want it to be
But in there, there’s just no room for me
I don’t want a lover
I just need a prayer
I know you never cared
Now that I know it wasn’t love
I don’t want a lover
I just need a prayer
I know you never cared
Now that I know it wasn’t love
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John McElhone / Sharleen Eeugene Spiteri
I Don’t Want A Lover lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Challenge Rules
- Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not. If it does not fit, then please explain why you chose this song.
- Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
- Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
- Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
- Ping back to Jim’s post or place your link in his comments section.
- Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
- Feel free to suggest future prompts.
- Most of all, have fun and enjoy the music.
View from the Back 
That is a tough challenge. The only two I can think of are “I want to be your lover” by Billy Fury and “Long Haired Lover from Liverpool” by Jimmy Osmond, neither of which are in my record collection.
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Thank you for sparing us from both of those!
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I was just singing this song to Jack and trying to remember who played it. Sheree!! Thank you for answering my question ❤
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You are very welcome Mel!
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Good song! I’ve never heard of this band, but I like their name and how they chose it. We used to live in Paris, TX, and some of my in laws still do live there. 🙂
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It’s always good to have introduced people to new music and bands
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gosh I remember this song! I was only 9 when it came out!
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