I Who Have Nothing

Album: Greatest Hits (1963)
Charted: 29
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about unrequited love is featured on The Sopranos soundtrack. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    John - Levittown, NY
  • The song's melody was based on an Italian song, "Uno Dei Tanti," (English: "One of Many"), which King had heard in Italy. King's producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller translated the lyrics into English.
  • Other versions of King's melodramatic soul hit that reached the Billboard charts were performed by:

    1966 Terry Knight and the Pack (who later became Grand Funk Railroad) in 1966 (#46)

    1970 Liquid Smoke (#82)

    1970 Tom Jones (#14)

    1979 Sylvester (#46)

    In the UK Shirley Bassey's George Martin produced version, which peaked at #6 in 1963, is the best known.
  • The song is a favorite for music based reality show contestants. American Idol contests who have performed the song include Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks in the Top 3, Season 10 contestant Haley Reinhart in the Top 4 and season 12 winner Candice Glover in the final.
  • Some critics believe that part of the song's melody was later copied for the Moody Blues' 1967 hit "Nights In White Satin."

Comments: 9

  • Mark from CaliforniaTom Jones' next song after his version of "I (Who Have Nothing)", "She's A Lady", peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 as his highest chart-topping song on that chart: the week that that song was at #2 (20 March 1971), Janis Joplin's posthumous song "Me and Bobby McGee" was at #1.
  • Samantha from Indiana Anyone know who owns the licensing to this song? One owner has 94% the other has 6%. I can not find any information on the 6% owner.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 30th, 1970 Tom Jones' covered version of "I (Who Have Nothing)" peaked at #2 {for 3 weeks} Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, the three weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "Snow Bird" by Anne Murray.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyBen E. King passed away Thursday (May 1st, 2015) of apparently natural causes at the age of 76.
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 1st 1979, Sylvester's covered version of "I (Who Have Nothing)" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; four weeks later on April 29th, 1979 it would peak at #40 {for 2 weeks} and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #27 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1978 and 1986 he had ten hits the R&B Singles chart; his biggest hit and also only Top 10 record was "Dance (Disco Heat)", it reached #4 in 1978 and was the first of his three #1 records on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart...
    Sadly, Sylvester, born Sylvester James, Jr., passed away on December 16th, 1988 at the young age of 41...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 23rd 1963, "I (Who Have Nothing)" by Ben E. King entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #99; and on August 18th it peaked at #29 (for 1 week) and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #16 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1960 and 1975 he had twenty-one Top 100 records; with three making the Top 10, "Spanish Harlem" (#10 in 1961), "Stand By Me" (#4 in 1961), and "Supernatural Thing - Part 1" (#5 in 1975)...
    "Stand By Me" re-entered the Top 100 in 1986, in conjunction with the movie of the same name, and it made the Top 10 again, reached #9 for two weeks...
    Mr. King, born Benjamin Earl Nelson, will celebrate his 76th birthday in three months on September 28th, 2014.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 26th in 1970, Tom Jones performed his covered version of "I (Who Have Nothing)" on the Raquel Welch's NBC-TV special 'Raquel!'...
    Four months later on August 16th, 1970 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on September 19th, 1970 it peaked at #14 (for 1 week) and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100 and it did may the Top 10 in Belgium were it peaked at #6...
    It reached #16 on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    Mr. Jones, born Thomas Jones Woodward, will celebrate his 74th birthday in less than two months on June 7th, 2014.
  • Dominick from New York, NyTom Jones also covered this song in 1970.
  • Lester from New York City, NyTerry Knight & the Pack (soon to be Grand Funk Railroad) did a decent cover of this.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.