"If I Had Words" is a 1977 song by
Scott Fitzgerald as a
duet
A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...
with
Yvonne Keeley
Yvonne Keeley (born Yvonne Paaij, 6 September 1952) is a Dutch pop music singer. She is the sister of Patricia Paay.
She began her career as a session singer in the music industry in London. She was the girlfriend of Steve Harley of Steve Har ...
. In 1978, it reached number 3 on the UK charts and number 3 on the Australian charts.
It sold more than one million copies worldwide. It was also a hit in Ireland (number 9), New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
The tune was taken from the main theme of the
maestoso section of
Saint-Saëns'
Symphony No.3 in C minor (''Symphony with organ'') with an added
reggae beat. (In the symphony, the theme used in the song is first exposed by the strings section in the second movement; it is later also played by the organ.
[Saint-Saëns, Camille (19--). Symphony no. 3 in C minor, opus 78, for orchestra and organ. Available at: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/aef8378/index.html, New York, N.Y.: International Music Co., pp. 126–129.]) The lyrics and arrangement were by
Jonathan Hodge, a prolific writer of TV jingles and movie themes, who also produced the single.
The backing was by the
St Thomas More Roman Catholic School Choir in Chelsea, London.
In popular culture/cover versions
* The song was heard in the 1995 film ''
Babe'', sung both by Farmer Hoggett (
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) is an American actor and activist. Some of his best-known films include ''Babe'' (1995), '' Star Trek: First Contact'' (1996), ''L.A. Confidential'' (1997), '' The Green Mile'' (1999), ''The Queen'' ...
) and by a trio of mice for a sped up version. It was also partially incorporated into the film's suite (instrumental). It was also featured in the film's sequel, ''
Babe: Pig in the City''.
* The song was covered in German by
Angie Gold. Her version, titled "Der schönste Tag" (English translation: "The most beautiful day"), was released as a single in Germany on Polydor in 1978.
* The song was covered by Hawaiian musician
Kealiʻi Reichel in the 1997 album ''ʻE O Mai''.
* In 1999, boy band
Westlife collaborated with the Vard Sisters and recorded the song.
* In 2014, Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter
Joanna Wang
Joanna Wang () is a Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter, daughter of renowned music producer Wang Zhi-ping (王治平). Born in Taipei but raised in Los Angeles, California, Wang dropped out from Gabrielino High School when she was 16. Her de ...
covered the song on her album ''Midnight Cinema''.
Sales and certifications
Notes
{{authority control
1977 songs
1977 singles
Male–female vocal duets