Album: Flying The Flag (1980)

Charted: 12

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• When I was younger, man
  I hadn't a care
  Fooling around
  Hitting the town
  Growing my hair
  
  You came along
  And stole my heart
  When you entered my life
  Ooh, babe
  You got what it takes
  So I made you my wife
  
  Since then
  I never looked back
  It's almost like living a dream
  And, ooh
  I love you
  
  You came along
  From far away
  And found me here
  
  I was playing around
  Feeling down
  Hitting the beer
  You picked me up
  From off the floor
  And gave me a smile
  
  You said
  You're much too young
  Your life ain't begun
  Let's walk for awhile
  
  And as my head was spinning 'round
  I gazed into your eyes
  And thought, ooh
  I want you
  
  Thank you, babe
  For being a friend
  And shining your light in my life
  'Cause, ooh
  I need you
  
  As my head was coming round
  I gazed into your eyes
  And thought, ooh
  I want you
  
  Thanks again for being my friend
  And straightening out my life
  'Cause, ooh
  I need you
  
  Since then I never looked back
  It's almost like livin' a dream
  Ooh
  I got you
  
  If ever a man had it all
  It would have to be me
  And, ooh
  I love you Writer/s: Derek John Holt
  Publisher: Peermusic Publishing
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 41

• Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenVery easy for me to imagine the Beatles performing this song.
• Glenn Fisher from ArizonaIn February of 1980 I moved from PA. to Az. and the description of the guy matches me. I met this girl Becky, she had what it takes so I made her my wife. The song at that time seem to match my/our lives at least for 22 years. My wife had just died in June 2024 but in 2002 we had gotten divorced. My son was going through some of Becky's stuff and came upon a cassette recording of our wedding and with it "The Climax Blues Band" cassette with the song "I Love You".
  I texted my son and explained I got that cassette so I would NEVER for get how much I loved his mother, my wife Becky.
• Lester_polyester from UsaThe Tesla version is outstanding too.
• Sue from WisconsinAbsolutely LOVE that song..always have, always will! Pure talent and it's a shame all you went through with the other band members to get the song 'out there'
  Shame on them for giving you such a hard time about it..but kudos to you for moving it forward & following your dreams! Beautiful ballad!!!
• Dee from Ohiohusband passed away 3 months ago in 2021 and this song came on the radio as a message from him from heaven, exactly how we met! Love it!
• Bopkin Ld Tennessee from NashvilleGreat song, record, and remarkable vocals that immediately draw in your ear to want to hear more. I am a semi - successful artist/ writer in Music City USA, ( you understand about feast or famine ) and it is difficult for me to grasp the bull headed decisions some make just because of ego. What happened to "For the good of the band"? It's music, not brain surgery folks! I doubt that when The Beatles were still together, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were ga ga over every song the other wrote, and very wisely decided from the beginning that no matter who wrote what, the songs would always be credited Lennon/McCartney. Can anyone imagine that as George Harrison grew and matured as an artist/writer, him bringing the group the songs "Something", "Here Comes The Sun", or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", and the rest of the band shrugging him off with " We do not want to promote George Harrison, so The Beatles will not allow our band name to be associated with these songs, nor will we lend our talents to him during the recordings"? Of course not! Man oh man, talk about The Climax Blues Band cutting off their noses to spite their faces and utter insanity! Derek Holt, it is not too late. Come to Nashville, pull together some incredible players, book some dates, ( when the Pandemic is over, of course) and stand there rightfully and boldly, and sing your franchise song live for an audience hungry to hear it, and enjoy the fruit of your labor and relish in the response you deserve to experience. "If you build it, they will come", and if you sing it they will listen. Derek, come on down, the water is fine, and we will welcome you with open arms!
• Dave from Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaI had this sung at my wedding 30 years ago. The greatest love song ever IMO. It was the first song my wife and I heard on our first date and remains our song today. Thank you for writing it!!
• Hector from CubaIt's one of my all time favourite song, l never get tired of listen it. Bring back a lot of memories to me.
• T.l. Salas from New MexicoA love story of a song that describes my husband and myself from 1984 to the present. What a blessed life we have with our 2 kids, their soulmates and our 1st grandson on the way. Dedicated this song to my husband on his 50th Bday and our 25th Anniversary with a beautiful video of pictures of our lives, playing this song and of course the first thing he said was "what is this, am I dying". Lol.......
• Jane from ChicagoThe slide guitar sounds so much like George Harrison's work.... With the Nicky Hopkins connection, any chance he laid down a track for this song? He did a lot of work under pseudonyms or uncredited for artists he admired over the years....
  
• Lori from Mount Carmel , Tn I’m 48 and I love you will always will be my favorite song. It is amazing, beautiful, heartfelt and when I hear your voice I get chills every time! When I need a happy moment I watch you sing this song.. and then, I’m good to go! Thank you, you have blessed my life more than you will ever know.
• Rich from Newton N.j.I'm a sucker for the Fender Rhodes
• John from Kansas CityThis song reminds me of grade school there was this girl named Stephanie I liked and after 2nd grade at Sweeny Elementary I never saw her again, not sure if she moved or what.
• John from New JerseyThis is one of my favorite songs and like most of the comments below, it fit perfect into my life. I use tell my girlfriend who later became my wife that I wish I had the talent to have written such an amazing song. Unfortunately she has passed at the age of 43 and I often play this song and it brings back fond memories with a tear or two. Thank you Derek for creating such a beautiful song, may it live on and be discovered by generations to come.
• Chuck from Houston Tx.I was 27 in 1981. This song fit perfectly with me and my wife. Reading Derek's story made it we even more special. I'm usually not so sentimental, but this is my favorite love song ever. Bar none. Whenever I hear it out brings a tear to my eye. Longing for that special time. Thank you Derek. AWESOME SONG!
• Jack from Gotham"When I was a younger man" gets me every time.
• Lisa from Atlanta, GaOne of the most beautiful love songs ever. It is heartrending in its sweetness and simplicity and never fails to bring a lump to my throat. "If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me. And ooooh, I love you". :)
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 15, 1981, "I Love You" by the Climax Blues Band entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #80; and on June 14th it peaked at #12 (for 1 week) and spent over a half-year on the Top 100 (27 weeks)...
  Between 1977 and 1981 the quartet had four Top 100 records; with "Couldn't Get It Right" being their biggest hit, it reached #3 (for 1 week) on May 15th, 1977.
• Jon from Midland, MiI love this song. Just heard it on Pandora. I'm wondering though if he's still with this woman. He states above that this was about meeting his "first wife" which tells me that they may no longer be together. Divorce or did she pass on?
• Karen from Manchester, NhI have the original print 45; SOOOO glad I do!
• Keith from Bear, DeOne of the greatest love songs ever written and performed. The lyrics are such that most anyone can relate to how they meet someone who comes into their life as a friend and over time helps change them into being a better person. As years go by, we need to forever thank that special person for the impact they've made. At more than 30 years since it's releast, "I love you" by the Climax Blues Band is still top material. Derek Holt, you did well!
• Lisa from Atlanta, GaA very beautiful song that brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it.
• Jill from East China, MiI love this song why can't I purchase it for my Zune :)
• Roy from Southall, United KingdomI know Derek Holt personally. He's a genuine and really nice man and, I think, couldn't have written this song unless he was. I really admire his exceptional abilities. Readers might like to know that Derek still makes good music and hasn't lost the gift of writing lyrics that stop you in your tracks. As someone said to me "What woman wouldn't go weak at the knees if they heard this?"
• Dan from Orange County, CaOne of my favorite songs of all time. I downloaded the song to my iPod free from limewire.com
• Renee from Lapeer, MiThis song has such wonderful memories of my first and only true love. Every time I hear it it takes me back to the most memorable times of my life. It's really too bad this song is not available for purchase.
• Pat from Oshawa, OnI absolutley love this song. This was our Wedding Song and it was almost like the song was written for us and our Wedding. We have been married for over 25 years and I listen to the song when ever I can.
• Timothy from Aston, PaI first heard the song in the summer of 1981. While vacationing with my parents in Ocean City, Maryland that July (I was 16 at the time), I met a girl who I instantly started liking, and the radio station we had on at the cottage frequently played "I Love You", making that song, all the way to this day, remind me of her whenever I hear it!
• Jeffrey from Brooklyn, NyWatch this rarely seen video of this great song:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx3V18-KTdA
• Carla from Oklahoma City, OkEverything Steve has written is True. It was the best song ever made. I do still Love him with all my heart. This song is so meaningful to us. I did not hear it much in my travel's and time away from him. But if I had I would have remembered this special song made just for us.
  I remember the part where he picked me off the ground at the skating rink. I will never Love Like I have him. Thank you for bringing this special song into our lives. It means so much to Steve and I. Thank you CBB
  
• Steve from Muldrow, OkThis is the best song ever for two people truly in love. I first heard this song in 1980 at the skating rink where I met my first true love and high school sweetheart Carla. This became our song. We didn't end up together like we should have but everytime I'd hear this song I'd think about her and wonder where she was and why we broke up. 25 years after we last seen each other we got back in touch and it's like we never broke up. Our feelings are still there and as strong as ever. We are now planning on getting married. So thank you Climax Blues Band for this beautiful song and especially thank you Carla for still loving me because I still Love You.
• Fred from Birmingham, AlI have this on an old K-tel LP from 1981. It's in the house somewhere.LOL I saw the band as the middle act in a concert headlined by Bachman Turner Overdrive back in 75. They were awesome and stole the show.
• Sam from Lincoln, NeGreat song! The first time I heard it, I thought it was Paul McCartney. I've read some of Derek Holt's comments and it's really sad that his bandmates were so petty about the song.
• J-ana from Waco, TxThis song word for word described my relationship with my fiance. When we met he was an alcholic who was down and out. I actually did tell him he was much too young and if he kept living that way he would die. He always said I took him by the hand and brought him back to life. He recovered and became a hard working man, who did ask me to be his wife. We had the world and enjoyed it fully and it was like a dream. But like most dreams you wake up. I lost the love of my life on July 1, 2007, God called him home. We played this song at his memorial, not a dry eye was there. Everyone said this song was us, and I thank this group every day in prayer for giving me such a wonderful reminder of my life with Joey.
• Mary from Kissimmee, FlI was 15 and my husband was 17 when we started dating in 1981. The day we knew it was forever was the day he put the song on the stereo and he took my hand and we danced while he sang this song in my hear. Afterwards, he told me the song said everything he was never able to say himself and that I was going to be his forever. Well, it's 2007 and we have been together for 26 wonderful years and married for 21 years. Every anniversary my husband puts this song on and we dance and he sings it to me just like he did on that day back in 1981. To this day, anytime I hear "I Love You" I will cry no matter where I am (I even have tears in my eyes as I write this). This has been the best song that has ever been written and released. Thank you Climax Blues Band ..... I Love You!!
• James from Yucaipa, CaA absolutely beautiful song.I remember it quite well in the early summer of 1980.
• N.i. from Baltimore, MdThis is one of my favorite songs, and I'm really surprised the band themselves didn't much like it. It's not just a sappy ballad, but very Beatle-esque in its sound, reminding me especially of George Harrison's music.
• Michael from San Diego, CaSuch a beautiful, simple tune. I have that CD compilation that Andrew mentions, and I cherish it. Truly a classic love song!
  
  "Since then, I?ve never looked back, it?s almost like living a dream, oooh, I got you!
  If ever a man, had it all, it would have to be me, and oooooooooh, I love you!"
• Andrew from Hatfield, PaThis song is now available on CD. There is an import from an independent label that has done a greatest hits package of the Climax Blues Band entitled "25 Years: 1968-1993". This greatest hits package is two CD's long, and does contain the song I Love You. Available at Amazon.com, and other online retailers.
• Jaibe from Carol Stream, IlThis really is the greatest song. It was in heavy rotation in Chicago for years in the 1980s when I was in highschool and I think it definitely influenced my life in a postive way in terms of expectations and understandings of what relationships can be about and like. It is a crime it's never been on a compilation. It must have made all of the members in the band money, how after all these years can they be opposed to that? I remember driving around and my best friend flipping between the 60+ radio stations in Chicago so we could listen to it almost continuously.
• Chris from Chicago, IlOne of my all time favorite love songs! I wish I could hear it more often!

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