I Believe In Music

Album: I Believe In Music (1971)
Charted: 117
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Mac Davis' second album, he recalled the story of the song to Billboard magazine. "There was a saying I saw somewhere on an old piece of folk art: 'God respects you when you work, but he loves you when you sing.' I thought somewhere down the line I had to use that idea."

    "I happened to be in England doing a television special for the BBC, and they put me on Lulu's television show. She was married to Maurice Gibb. They had a wrap party afterwards. They asked me if I wanted to join them in a séance. This was back in 1970 or 1971, and I said no. They said, 'You don't believe in the occult?' I said, 'No, I believe in music.'"

    "There was Maurice's guitar sitting there, and when I got back to the hotel, I finished it up. I still have the original paper from the hotel. I've got it framed. I did use that line in there: 'Lift your voices to the sky, God loves you when you sing.' That epitomized the whole song. That's what music is about."
  • The song was covered by several other artists in the early 1970s, including the Detroit pop band Gallery in 1972, who had a #22 Hot 100 hit with it.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousMac Davis, who had a No. 1 hit in 1972 with “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me”, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee following heart surgery. He was 78 years old...
    Between 1970 and 1986 the Lubbock, Texas native had thirty records on the Hot Country Singles chart, six made the Top 10 with his "Hooked On Music" being his biggest hit on the Hot Country Singles chart, it peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles* chart, the two records that kept it out of the top spot were "Rest Your Love On Me" by Conway Twitty and "Am I Losing You" by Ronnie Milsap...
    Besides "Hooked On Music", his five other Top 10 records were "It's Hard To Be Humble" {#10 in 1980}, "Let's Keep It That Way" {#10 in 1980}, "Texas In My Rearview Mirror, "You're My Bestest Friens" {#5 in 1981", and "I Never Made Love (Till I Made It With You)" {#10 in 1985}...
    On Billboard's Top 100 chart he had fifteen charted records, two made the Top 10 with Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me" {#1 in 1972...
    Besides "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me", his other Top 10 record was "Stop and Smell The Roses" {#9 in 1974...
    He composed four songs that were recorded by Elvis Presley. "Memories" {#35 in 1969}, "In the Ghetto" {#3 in 1969}, "Don't Cry Daddy" {#6 in 1970}, and "A Little Less Conversation" {#69 in 1968}....
    May he R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.