Friday, May 24, 2013

Music Friday: Tom Jones Belts Out His 1970 Interpretation of the Timeless Love Song, 'I (Who Have Nothing)'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you amazing tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. “I (Who Have Nothing)” is a timeless love song that has been covered by dozens of artists, both male and female, for the past 50 years.

tomjones

The version we like best is performed here by none other than Sir Thomas John Woodward (better known as Tom Jones), whose powerful interpretation launched the song to #14 on the Billboard charts in 1970.

In “I (Who Have Nothing),” a poor man makes an impassioned plea to win the heart of his love interest. Sadly, all he can do is watch from his window as she goes out wrapped in the arms of a wealthy man — a man who can “give her the world,” including “bright sparkling diamonds.”

Jones, whose soulful voice and great looks melted hearts during the 1960s and '70s, has sold more than 100 million records and charted 36 Top-40 hits, including “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat” and “Delilah.”

The first artists to release “I (Who Have Nothing)” were Ben E. King and Shirley Bassey, both in 1963. Since then, the song has been reinterpreted by singers as diverse as Petula Clark, Luther Vandross, Liza Minnelli and Neil Diamond.

More recently, a new generation of music lovers was introduced to “I (Who Have Nothing) when it was performed by American Idol Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks.

We invite you to enjoy the riveting performance of Tom Jones at the end of this post. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along.

“I (Who Have Nothing)”
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Performed by Tom Jones.

I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Adore you, and want you so
I'm just a no one,
With nothing to give you but Oh
I Love You

He, He buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But believe me, dear when I say,
That he can give you the world,
But he'll never love you the way
I Love You

He can take you anyplace he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you, go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else
When darling it's I
Who Loves you

I Love You
I Love You
I Love You

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