Not Fade Away

Album: 20 Golden Greats (1957)
Play Video
  • Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop

    I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    You're gonna give your love to me
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    I want to love you night and day
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    You know my loving not fade away
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Well you know my loving not fade away
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop

    My love bigger than a Cadillac
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    I'll try to show it when you're driving me back
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Your love for me got to be real
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    For you to know just how I feel
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    A love for real not fade away
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop

    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop

    I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    You're gonna give your love to me
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Love to last more than one day
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Love is loving and not fade away
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Love is loving and not fade away
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    'Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop
    Bop-bop-bop-bop Writer/s: Charles Hardin, Norman Petty
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 1, 1980, Tanya Tucker performed her covered version of "Not Fade Away" on the NBC-TV network late night musical variety program 'The Midnight Special'...
    One year earlier on January 14th, 1979 the song entered the Hot Top 100 chart at #84, two weeks later it would peak at #70 {for 1 week} and it spent 4 weeks on the Top 100.
  • Brian from La Mesa, CaPatequi is completely right. Bo Diddley picked up "his" beat most likely from hambone or from hearing Cuban rhythms. I played congas and the bells in Cuban rhumba, and we called the pattern the Son Clave. Rhumba, mambo, and other Caribbean rhythms were very prevalent in U.S. pop music from the '50s into the '60s. Other songs of note with this particular clave: "I Want Candy", "Magic Bus", "His Latest Flame", and "Little Darlin'"
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 16th 1981, Englishman Eric Hine's New Wave covered version of "Not Fade Away" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 at position #89; and on September 6th, 1981 it peaked at #73 {for 1 week} and spent 5 weeks on the Top 100.
  • Viktor from Vänersborg, SwedenThe reason it's named for Bo Diddley is because he made the beat popular and well-known.
  • Joe from Lynnwood, WaThe Dead did this over 500 times in concert!
  • Patequi from Pasadena, CaThe so called Bo Diddley beat is not anything innovative by Bo, it is nothing but the cinquillo, the clave, a 5 beat rhythm pattern brought to the Americas by Africans. It is also known as the "shave and a haircut, 2 bits" and "hambone beat". Willie and the Hand Jive, Louie, Louie, Help Me Rhonda are but just a few other songs with clave, the basis of Cuban music, "salsa" and Latin jazz as well as other Caribbean music
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyBruce Springsteen has performed this song in 36 different concerts, the last time in 2008...
  • Larry from Lapid, IsraelAlso covered by James Taylor, on his album "Covers", and on the DVD "Live At The Beacon Theatre".
  • Bob from Roseville, CoOn the Stone's 64 tour,this was there opening number.Jagger with his grey sweat shirt standing sideways to the mike,shaking his marrica's
  • Dana from Greenwood, ScOf course, Taylor Hicks' version on AI was just adorable...
  • John from Charlotte, NcThe line "your love for me -has- got to be real
    for you to know just how I feel" was used by Black Sabbath in their verry satanic song N.I.B.
  • Tony from Devon, EnglandDrummer Jerry Allison played cardboard box on this instead of a drum. He's heard Buddy KNow's drummer do that on 'Party Doll'
  • Roger from Los Angeles, CaYes, the Grateful Dead occasionally would cover this song in concerts.
  • Adam from Jupiter, FlDidn't Grateful Dead also record Not Fade Away? I saw them in Oregon in 1993 and they performed it.
  • Matthew from New York, NyAnother famous cover of the song was done by the Rolling Stones. It has been featured on a number of their "Greatest Hits" collections, including the more recently released "40 Licks" CDs.
  • David from Lubbock, Tx"Not Fade Away" did as much for establishing the "Bo Diddley Beat" with mass music audiences as any recording by its namesake.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."