YOUR LOVE

Gary U.S. Bonds' album version



She promises to be yours forever and always
And you're too young to know it don't work out that way
When she kisses you and your heart skips
And you're ten feet off the ground
Soon you'll be crying and that's when you'll have found

That your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down

Well it's kisses and sweet talk
When she first starts coming 'round
But soon tears start falling down
You say every day she makes your dreams come true
But soon those very dreams will be the death of you

Well, your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down

Whoa oh oh oh oh
Ah ah ah ah yeah
Whoa oh oh oh oh yeah
Ah ah ah ah alright

No cold denials, no one really lied
It was time spent, promises inplied
And suddenly you see something new in her eyes
And in that moment you begin to realize

Lately you've been walking the streets at night (all night long)
Like an empty shadow in the morning light (mm hmm)
Like an empty shadow that's suddenly found (oh yeah)
That your love is gonna let you down

Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
Oh, your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
Listen!
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
All right
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love is gonna let you down
Oh!
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love has got to let you down
Oh, oh!
Your love is gonna let you down, boy
Your love


Info

YOUR LOVE is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and donated to Gary U.S. Bonds who released it on his 1981 album Dedication. The song is one of four on the album that were produced and arranged by Steven Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen.

The above lyrics are for Gary U.S. Bonds' album version of YOUR LOVE as released in 1981.

Studio Recording

Gary U.S. Bonds recorded the song during the Dedication album recording sessions in mid-1980 (see the "Dedication" section below for more details).

According to Brucebase, a Bruce Springsteen vocal rendition of YOUR LOVE was likely recorded at The Power Station in New York City, NY, during the June-August 1980 recording sessions with Gary U.S. Bonds.

Dedication

Gary U.S. Bonds released two studio albums and several hit singles in 1961 and 1962, three of which were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Success was short-lived and Bonds relegated to playing the oldies circuit. In the early eighties, his career resurrected with two collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, and the E Street Band: Dedication in 1981 and On The Line in 1982.

Dedication is Gary U.S. Bonds' third studio album, released in April 1981 on EMI America Records. The musicians backing Bonds on the album include many members of the E Street Band and the Asbury Jukes. The album includes three songs written by Bruce Springsteen (THIS LITTLE GIRL, YOUR LOVE, and DEDICATION), one written by Steve Van Zandt, and several covers of songs from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and others. Four of the album's songs (the three that Springsteen wrote plus JOLE BLON) were produced and arranged by Steven Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen provided shared lead vocals on JOLE BLON and backing vocals on THIS LITTLE GIRL. He is also credited for providing guitar but it's not clear on which tracks; it is likely that he played guitar on some or all of the four tracks that he co-produced.

Dedication was recorded sometime between June and August 1980 at The Power Station in New York City, NY, during Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band sessions for Gary U.S. Bonds undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the final recording sessions for The River. According to a May 1981 article by Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder, the initial plan was to record an EP for Gary U.S. Bonds consisting of three songs that Springsteen had written for him. Loder wrote that "Bruce had a lot of wild ideas, and pretty soon the EP started looking more like an LP. Fifteen days later, they emerged with a whole album."

Dedication reached #27 on Billboard's Top LPs & Tapes chart and #34 on the Top R&B Albums chart and produced several singles, including THIS LITTLE GIRL which was a hit. Music writer Dave Marsh called Dedication "one of the most successful comeback albums in rock & roll history".

Gary U.S. Bonds -- Dedication
Gary U.S. Bonds -- Dedication

LP - EMI America (SO-17051) - USA, 1981

Dedication was re-released in 1991 on the Razor Edge label (catalog number RE-1986-2).

  1. JOLE BLON
  2. THIS LITTLE GIRL
  3. YOUR LOVE
  4. DEDICATION
  5. DADDY'S COME HOME
  6. IT'S ONLY LOVE
  7. THE PRETENDER
  8. WAY BACK WHEN
  9. FROM A BUICK 6
  10. JUST LIKE A CHILD

Single Release

YOUR LOVE was released in 1981 as a single in North America and on the B-side of IT'S ONLY LOVE in Holland.

Gary U.S. Bonds -- "Your Love / Just Like A Child"
Gary U.S. Bonds -- "Your Love / Just Like A Child"

7" single - EMI America (A-8099) - USA, 1981

No picture sleeve.

A1- YOUR LOVE
B1- JUST LIKE A CHILD
Gary U.S. Bonds -- "Your Love / Just Like A Child"
Gary U.S. Bonds -- "Your Love / Just Like A Child"

7" single - EMI Capitol (77002) - Canada, 1981

No picture sleeve.

A1- YOUR LOVE
B1- JUST LIKE A CHILD
Gary U.S. Bonds -- "It's Only Love / Your Love"
Gary U.S. Bonds -- "It's Only Love / Your Love"

7" single - EMI America (1A 006-86455) - Holland, 1981

Comes in a picture sleeve.

A1- IT'S ONLY LOVE
B1- YOUR LOVE

Live History

YOUR LOVE was performed off-tour on 02 Jul 1989 at The Cafe Bar in Long Branch, NJ, during a guest appearance with Gary U.S. Bonds.

  1. 02 Jul 1989 at The Cafe Bar, Long Branch, NJ

Covers

At least 2 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's YOUR LOVE.

Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

CD - Totem Records (TTM 480499 2) - Italy, 1995

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. YOUR LOVE is performed by Io Vorrei La Pelle Nera.
Sensational Soul Cruisers -- Accept No Imitations Volume 5
Sensational Soul Cruisers -- Accept No Imitations Volume 5

CD - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2001

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Some of the above info about the studio recordings is taken from Brucebase.

Request

Please contact me if you have scans or info about any official release containing YOUR LOVE that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases:

  • Gary U.S. Bonds -- "Your Love / Just Like A Child" || 7" single - EMI Capitol (77002) - Canada, 1981

Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of YOUR LOVE on this website:

YOUR LOVE [Gary U.S. Bonds' album version]

Page last updated: 06 Feb 2016