Annie's Song by John Denver

Album: Back Home Again (1974)

Charted: 1 1

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John Denver wrote "Annie's Song" for his then-wife, Ann Martell, after their first separation and near breakup of their marriage in 1974. He said that it was one of the fastest songs he ever wrote, composing it in about 10 minutes while he was riding on a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado. Denver was reflecting on all the joy he found in his marriage and his relief that they were back together.

Denver wrote in his autobiography: "Suddenly, I'm hypersensitive to how beautiful everything is. All of these things filled up my senses, and when I said this to myself unbidden images came one after the other. All of the pictures merged and I was left with Annie. That song was the embodiment of the love I felt at that time."

Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last. The couple divorced in 1982.
Annie recalled the day Denver wrote the song: "It was written after John and I had gone through a pretty intense time together and things were pretty good for us. He left to go skiing and he got on the Ajax chair on Aspen mountain and the song just came to him. He skied down and came home and wrote it down... Initially it was a love song and it was given to me through him, and yet for him it became a bit like a prayer."
"Annie's Song" was adopted by Sheffield United Football Club, from Sheffield, England, in the late '70s. The first few lines are played to a home crowd at the beginning of each half of the game, then fans sing along but with altered words that relate to the club and the city. Known as the "Greasy Chip Butty Song," it goes:

You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet
Like a packet of Woodbines
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like a night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty
Like Sheffield United
Come fill me again

"Magnet" is a local beer; "Woodbines" are cigarettes.
This was featured in a scene in the 1997 movie My Best Friend's Wedding when Julianne and Michael are having a serious conversation and three young boys inhale the helium (laughing gas) from a helium tank meant for the balloons.
According to Denver's producer, Milt Okun, when John brought him the song it was called "Song For Annie," and it sounded a lot like Frank Sinatra's "Moon Love" and the second movement of Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 1." So Denver went over to the piano and changed the music.

"It's semi-Tchaikovsky, mostly Denver," Okun said.
Midway through the song, the vocal turns to humming, which was Denver's idea. The song starts and ends with the same verse, which is the hook:

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest...
"Annie's Song" was John Denver's second #1 hit in America, following "Sunshine On My Shoulders." It also topped the Adult Contemporary chart.

In the UK, where Denver's only other chart entry is "Perhaps Love," his collaboration with Placido Domingo, "Annie's Song" was a #1 hit.
The name Annie never shows up in the lyrics, which gives it a universal appeal as an all-purpose love song. For a while it was popular at weddings.

Another '70s hit with a real person in the title that is never mentioned in the lyric is "Danny's Song" by Loggins and Messina, with Danny being Kenny Loggins' older brother.
The song is part of Denver's 1974 album Back Home Again, which has a photo of him and Annie on the cover. That album also includes the studio version of "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," which became a #1 the following year when it was released as a live version.

Comments: 26

Sharon from FlI would pick "For You" by John Denver as a wedding song. It isn't as well known, but it is a beautiful love song.
Robbie from Norwich, UkWhat touches me about this song is its sincerity. Denver meant & felt every word he sang and he was singing them for his lover and her alone. The only other recorded song I know in this deeply & obviously personal vein is Ewan McColl's 'The first time ever I saw your face'. Both John & Ewan's songs have me reaching for a hanky when I hear them...
Kawa from Tokyo, JapanHi Music lovers,

I think that the idea of the lyrics of the song came from the song called 'Danny's Song' written and sung by Keny Loggins in 1972 but John's first attention of the song came from by the cover version by Anne Murray in 1973. Because Anne's version was a big hit. I know that you tells me that there are no key words that indicate the song' Danny's Song' influenced John and made him wrote the song 'Annie's Song', but then take a look at that the title of the song 'Annes Song'. It's very similar to 'Danny's Song' and that the comment from him above, 'saying that Suddenly, I'm hypersensitive to how beautiful everything is'. This comment reminds me of the key phrases of 'Danny's Song', 'Everything is alright !'.
The traces remain ! John !
Jodi from Northampton, PaOne of the most simple, and amazing songs ever written: come let me love you.... come love me again.
Skyforme from Va;;ey Center, CaWhat a gift this song was and still is. I think any woman would wish for something so beautiful to be written about her. RIP John.
Renzo from Pagadian City, Philippinesdenvers songs are not only for the ears but for the hearts and souls.bravo jonh.
Alifa from Hong Kong, ChinaMy friend is going to marry next month. He would like to sing this song 'Annie's song' to his bride during the wedding. Is it appropriate? If only in terms of the lyrics, I think it is OK, but does he need to think about the story behind the song? What do others think?
Paul from Detroit, MiI loved most of John Denver's music, but this song was just so syrupy and boring. Give me Thank God I'm A Country boy or Rocky Mountain High any day over this little ditty. I'm shocked to see it hit #1 in the US and UK.
Grant from Toowoomba,In Reply- Jennifer- "SunShine" was the Movie where Kate Hayden (Christiana Raynes) - Was dying of Cancer and writing a diary to her daughter!- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070751/ - Will link you to this film. In the lyrics of John Denver's Song "Back Home Again" -his mother called last Friday "Sunshine made her cry" (and Me Also) GB
Jennifer from Beaumont, TxBack in the 70's wasn't there a movie that this song was the theme for? It was about a woman dying from cancer & making movies for her child to watch as she grew up? I can not remember the name of the movie?
Erik from Bloomfield Hills, MiAfter the second line in this song, there is some kind of noise, it kind of sounds like a cross between a sigh and a grunt. What is that, does anyone know?
Lisa from Toronto, OnI love this song sooo much. I play it everyday on my way to work. It remindes me of the love and passion i still have for my husband still..after 20 yrs. I love you Mark...come love me again!!
Robert from San Francisco, CaIn a recurring verse in one of his songs "Poems, Prayers and Promises" John mentions "sitting around with his old lady, passing the pipe around".
Matthew from Milford, Ma...Beautiful... (Just wait until Tails reads these lyrics, ha ha ha!)
Pete from Nowra, Australiagreat song , the love for another , great stuff, love the mandolin bit , think it was a mandolin, sounded like a mandolin
Bruce from Gainesville, GaThis song was from John Denver's best album (in my humble opinion) "Back Home Again." This album was released in 1974, when John hit his peak. After the mid-70's, John tried to change his music too much (even did a disco song in the late 70's) when he should have stayed with his original good basic melodies and lyrics of his early years (as James Taylor has done). Yes, if he were still around, he would draw thousands of 50's and 60's people to his concerts...but, at least we stil have his recordings!
Max from Austin, TxHelium isn't laughing gas. Laughing gas (NO2) actually makes your voice alot deeper.
Cooper from Seattle, WaHe did not write this before his and Annie's break up, it was just a love song he wrote to her out of nowhere, in a movie i saw on john denver, he cheats on her and writes this song to make her feel better. That happened but the song he made to make her feel better was "im sorry"
Jon-michael from Augusta, Georgia, Gathis is a truly wonderful song.
Richard from Chesapeake, VaMinor point Pravin... Nitros oxide is "laughing gas." Helium won't make you laugh, unless it's because it causes you to sound like a chipmunk.
Cat from Bournemouth, EnglandIts really amazing to find happy and pure songs like this about genuine love between two people. These days artists just seem want to write about drugs, sex or their own insignificant crap!
Nathan from Saint Peter, MnI've been told he was a wonderful guy as well as a wonderful singer (which I already knew). I have heard good things from his nephew, who I am friends with.
Pravin from Piscataway, NjThis song featured in a scene in the movie My Best Friend's Wedding when Julianne and Michael are having a serious conversation and three young boys inhale the helium (laughing gas) from a helium tank meant for the balloons. The song is a nice contrast to the serious conversation, and the juxtaposition of the two is really nice!
Shirley from Ocean, NjYes, John Denver was a wonderful singer; full of emotion. He died way too young.
Jo from Newcastle, AustraliaDespite being one of the most popular choices for weddings, "Annie's Song" was, for a long time, banned from Catholic ceremonies ('cause of the suggestion of premarital sex...)
Sarah from Ottawa, CanadaThis is a beautiful song by a wonderful singer. John Denver was a wonderful singer in his day. I wish he had not died but oh well.

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