♫ I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

This one just popped into my head in the shower yesterday and for some reason it refused to leave.  So, since I haven’t played it for a few years, and since I really like it, let’s … Play it again, Sam!  Or Jim, as the case may be.

Jim Croce was just starting to become successful when he died at the age of 30. Jim, the pilot, and other members of his group, were killed when the plane crashed into a pecan tree at the end of the runway in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1973.  This song, as well as another of my favourites, Photographs and Memories, were released after his death.

Croce’s wife Ingrid has an autobiographical cookbook, Thyme In A Bottle, in which she writes interesting anecdotes about Jim. Here’s what she wrote about the backstory for this song:

“One weekend, after being on the road for many months, Jim got a chance to come home to relax with his family. We settled in to enjoy our time alone together. Though Jim was expecting company the next day, avoiding confrontation he never told me that we were to be joined by an entire film crew! The next morning, 15 people from Acorn Productions descended upon our house to record a promotional film of Jim Croce at Home on the Farm. I prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the whole film crew and after the group left, I questioned Jim about our finances. After a year and a half of his working so very hard on the road, we were barely making ends meet, but Jim wouldn’t talk about it. He hated questions as much as he hated confrontation, especially about money. He stormed out of our bedroom and went down to the kitchen table to brood. The next morning he woke me gently by singing his new song. ‘Every time I tried to tell you the words just came out wrong. So I’ll have to say I love you, in a song.'”

Several artists have covered this song, but none come even close to the originator, Jim Croce.

I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song
Jim Croce

Well, I know it’s kind of late
I hope I didn’t wake you
But what I’ve got to say can’t wait
I know you’d understand
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song

Yeah, I know it’s kind of strange
Every time I’m near you
I just run out of things to say
I know you’d understand
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song

‘Cause every time the time was right
All the words just came out wrong
So I’ll have to say “I love you” (I love you) in a song

Yeah, I know it’s kind of late (it’s kind of late)
I hope I didn’t wake you
But there’s something that I just got to say
(I know you’d understand)
I know you’d understand
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: James Croce
I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song lyrics © BMG Rights Management

17 thoughts on “♫ I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song ♫ (Redux)”

  1. It’s funny: I searched out Jim Croce a few months ago and have been playing his songs quite a bit lately. I always loved this one. It’s hard (and unnecessary 🙂) to choose just one, but I think this might be my very favourite. And I always love hearing the back story to a song I particularly love, so thanks so much for this 🙂🙏

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  4. Jill, from a terrific and extensive body of work, this ranks as one of his best. I am also partial to “Lover’s Cross”, “Photographs and Memories” and “New York’s not my home.” Keith

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    • I’m glad you liked it, my friend! Your other choices are duly noted … I have played “Photographs and Memories” a couple of times, I think, but not the other two, so … stay tuned … and remind me if you don’t see them … memory is not my strong suit these days.

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  6. This is one of Jim’s best, out of a number of great songs. We lost him too early. We lost too many too early. In 1974 The Righteous Brothers released their last big hit, paying tribute to big names who died too young. When I looked for a version to play there were too many of them, representing different eras. Other videos were deserving, but this one seemed to cover a wider range of rock n roll greats, though it definitely is not comprehensive. I hope you enjoy.

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