Sweet Love

Album: Movin' On (1976)
Charted: 32 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first big pop hit for the Commodores, "Sweet Love" was the first of their Lionel Richie-written ballads that moved them away from the stone cold funk sound they started with. The song is vague but powerful treatise on the healing powers of love.
  • Richie borrowed some well-worn lines in his lyric:

    Show me a river that's so deep
    Show me a mountain so high


    "River Deep - Mountain High" was a song by Ike & Tina Turner released in 1966.

    Put a little love in your heart

    This is the title of a Jackie DeShannon hit from 1969.
  • In a Songfacts interview with Commodores founding member Thomas McClary, he said: "I was very moved by the fact that in the harmonies of 'Sweet Love,' in the early days, we would play other artists' songs, because we didn't have our own original songs. So, we would play songs by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, for instance. If you recall, their uniqueness was their harmonies. So, I often think about the harmonies that try to make that song different, and bringing into play the funk with a ballad, which kind of gave 'Sweet Love' that unique sound."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.