# Challenge: the perfect love song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452 "2008-01-05T23:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/21 "2008-01-06T06:35:28Z")
[Today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49JQF7hgt4Q) (YouTube), by The Jefferson Airplane gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/22 "2008-01-06T14:27:04Z")
Wow! These are some fantastic suggestions! iTunes thanks you all for having me buy so many of these songs. So far “Darling, Be Home Soon” captures best what I’m after. Keep the suggestions coming! Let me add to the criteria any song that personally moved you in the sense of just being glad, satisfied, honoured, etc., that the other person is a part of your life. Bonus points if it contains a phrase in French (“Ne Me Quitte Pas” is a beautiful song that just doesn’t quit align with the emotion I’m seeking). ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/23 "2008-01-06T14:45:34Z")
The greatest love song ever written is **“Every Time We Say Goodbye”** by Cole Porter. _Any_ version. That’s how good the song is. And it’s the work of a genius. If you doubt me, try writing a classic, timeless _tune_, a melody that everyone acknowleges _as_ a great melody, where no less than the first _eight_ notes are _exactly the same_. If you want something slightly more contemporary, albeit still over 25 years old, I’d suggest **“Songbird”** , a song usually credited to ‘Fleetwood Mac’ (‘Rumours’, of course) but it’s really a solo Christine McVie piece and should be credited as such. She wrote it, she sang it, she played the solo piano. And it’s very, very hard to beat. **"Ribbons In The Sky"** is Stevie Wonder’s finest ballad, from the period when he had talent to burn. Another song that dispenses with all the rules, and becomes just a free form expression of intense, almost inexpressible love. I love it because it’s infused with affection and respectful romance. The singer is being polite, and asking if he _may_ hold her hand. **"To Make You Feel My Love"** is another great song. Any version except Dylan’s will do. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/24 "2008-01-06T14:52:39Z")
I remember a song by an 80’s band _Translator_ called "I Love You, off the album “No Time Like Now”… can’t find the lyrics online, but ordered the CD for $9 though (woo hoo!!!) ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/25 "2008-01-06T15:58:54Z")
Here are two beautiful songs. I thought of these immediately so I’m including both, although the second may be more of what you wanted. _I have often walked down this street before; But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I Several stories high. Knowing I’m on the street where you live._ I love this song. Gorgeous melody and wonderful lyrics. \*\*On The Street Where You Live \*\* from My Fair Lady. From Miss Saigon: **The Last Night of the World** \*Dreams they were all I ever knew Dreams you won’t need when I’m through Anywhere we may be I will sing with you a song… A song played on a solo saxophone So stay with me and hold me tight and dance like it’s the last night of the world \* ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/26 "2008-01-06T18:48:55Z")
[QUOTE=Nature’s Call] “Ne Me Quitte Pas” is a beautiful song that just doesn’t quite align with the emotion I’m seeking). [/QUOTE] Forgive the self-indulgence. I appreciate this song doesn’t quite fit the _zeitgeist_ of your thread but I’ve been listening to a lot of Scott Walker recently, both with and without the Walker Brothers. (Scott’s version of _If You Go Away_ is superior to Brel’s IMO but I can’t locate a video of it.) Regular listeners to Walker will know that a large box of Kleenex For Men is a prerequisite for most of his work and that counselling may be necessary if an entire album is attempted in one sitting. When I’ve stopped crying I may commence a thread about torch songs (with optional orchestra). Good topic. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/27 "2008-01-07T01:44:39Z")
What is this for? A mix tape for the one you love? \*\* Nick Cave’s\*\* [Into My Arms](http://www.lyricsdomain.com/14/nick_cave/into_my_arms.html) is beautiful. Not so much of the sexual tension, but there you go. A post break-up wallow? Hmm…what about **Jeff Buckley’s** [Lover, You Should Have Come Over](http://www.asklyrics.com/display/Jeff_Buckley/Lover,_You_Should%E2%80%99ve_Come_Over_Lyrics/152404.htm). It’s a song about wanting badly to be forgiven by someone you’ve cheated on so that you can have hot, monkey sex with them, and it’s pretty great. \*"Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come It’s never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder It’s never over, all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her It’s never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter It’s never over, she’s the tear that hangs inside my soul forever"\* or how about **Joni Mitchell’s** [A Case Of You](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/A-CASE-OF-YOU-lyrics-Joni-Mitchell/AE9BF2D201D4745248256A42004F12C6)? A soundtrack for the bedroom? I like **Pulp’s** [F.E.E.L.I.N.G.CA.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/F-E-E-L-I-N-G-C-A-L-L-E-D-L-O-V-E-lyrics-Pulp/3CD992373116FF6D482568A400165402) It’s sleazier, definitely no syrup, definitely sexual and mildly explicit. Ok, I have horrible taste in music but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/28 "2008-01-07T01:55:25Z")
[Sit On My Face - Monty Python](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKeQpeDkoGc) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/29 "2008-01-07T02:23:31Z")
The Righteous Brothers’ _Unchained Melody_ and the Beatles’ _Here, There and Everywhere._ ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/30 "2008-01-07T03:01:27Z")
My all time fave for a romanitc song is _I’ll Be There_ by **The Jackson 5**. Unless that’s too “syrupy” for you, in which case I say, you can’t wrap your sausage in the pancake without some sweet, sweet syrup! Here’s a clip of [a live performance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4QyZH0EXcQ) on YouTube (kinda wobbly sound quality though). Sticking closer to the criteria in the OP though, I would suggest **U2** ’s song [With Or Without You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEfSnjL0pd8). Or on a completely different (hip-hop) tack, Method Man and Mary J. Blige’s duet [You’re All I Need (I’ll Be There For You)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPC5jor1YFc&feature=related). (I never realized how many music video/live performance clips there were on YouTube; it ain’t all just cats crapping on the john any more, eh!) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/31 "2008-01-07T03:42:18Z")
**All That Matters** by Mark Knopfler. Its kinda old-timey, if that’s your thing. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfAU80rRkWU) I could also make a pretty strong argument for **That’s No Way to Say Goodbye** by Leonard Cohen. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yDDCQf0V6VM/hqdefault.jpg "that's no way to say goodbye") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDDCQf0V6VM) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/32 "2008-01-07T21:35:58Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] (Scott’s version of _If You Go Away_ is superior to Brel’s IMO but I can’t locate a video of it.) [/quote] Pistols at dawn and wigs on the green, my good man. [Here’s why I think so](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8490823&postcount=39). > [@](#): > > Regular listeners to Walker will know that a large box of Kleenex For Men is a prerequisite for most of his work Personally, I don’t find him that arousing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/33 "2008-01-07T21:46:22Z")
**At Last** _At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over And life is like a song Oh, yeah, at last The skies above are blue My heart was wrapped up in clovers The night I looked at you I found a dream that I could speak to A dream that I can call my own I found a thrill to rest my cheek to A thrill that I have never known Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile Oh, and then the spell was cast And here we are in heaven For you are mine At last_ Get the version by Jimmy Scott, which would melt carbon steel. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/34 "2008-01-07T22:19:15Z")
While not very sexual, two of my favorite love songs are [I’ll Catch You](http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpXIBaKCGzQ) by Getup Kids and [Little Moments](http://www.lyrics007.com/Brad%20Paisley%20Lyrics/Little%20Moments%20Lyrics.html) by Brad Paisley, which I feel captures the feeling of being in love really well with this verse: \*When she’s layin’ on my shoulder on the sofa in the dark And about the time she falls asleep so does my right arm And I want so bad to move it 'cause it’s tingling and it’s numb But she looks so much like an angel that I don’t wanna wake her up Yeah I live for little moments When she steals my heart again and doesn’t even know it \* ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/35 "2008-01-07T22:33:47Z")
[For Emily Whenever I May Find Her](http://youtube.com/watch?v=zdc8qsTZ_Uw) ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/36 "2008-01-07T23:04:56Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Pistols at dawn and wigs on the green, my good man. [Here’s why I think so](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8490823&postcount=39). [/quote] The problem I have with Brel’s _Ne Me Quitte Pas_ is that he is too needy for my taste. I prefer people who are being dumped by other people to be a little more stoic about it, and to articulate their emotions in a more circumspect way. _If You Go Away_ does this for me because the guy _knows_ his woman is going to leave him and the title change isn’t a proposition, rather it is a done deal. The song may have been covered by a few less than stellar performers, as you suggest, but let that take nothing away from Walker’s rendition. I also disagree with you on the pistols because it’s your challenge and therefore my choice of weapons. After consulting with my seconds I select stereo systems at 20 paces and may the best song win. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/37 "2008-01-08T07:46:19Z")
“With Your Love” by Jefferson Airplane may have de-volved to the point of cliche for some, but I just love it. Hard to describe, but it just feels so _full_ to me. I could say the same about “Miracles.” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/38 "2008-01-08T07:56:22Z")
[Wonderful Tonight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yekz__cCci0) by **Eric Clapton**. Really just the story of a couple going out for the night, coming home with a headache and going to sleep. But it positively drips with the love the man has for his wife/girlfriend. **Something** by the Beatles. Written by George Harrison, Frank Sinatra thought it was the greatest love song ever written. ---
**Author:** ![Aioua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@Aioua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aioua)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/39 "2008-01-08T08:04:50Z")
FWIW, “Always With Me, Always With You” By Joe Satriani I think I’m the only one who thinks this. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452/40 "2008-01-08T08:11:55Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] **Something** by the Beatles. Written by George Harrison, Frank Sinatra thought it was the greatest love song ever written. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Me n’ Frankie, peas in a pod! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-the-perfect-love-song/432452.md?page=3)