About the song
The song “(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story” is a beloved piece from 1970, composed by Francis Lai with lyrics by Carl Sigman. Originally, it was introduced as an instrumental theme for the film “Love Story,” which was released by Paramount Pictures. The film’s distributor initially rejected the original lyrics, leading to a new set written by Sigman. Andy Williams later recorded these new lyrics, which propelled the song to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured the top spot on their Easy Listening chart.
The creation of this song has an interesting backstory. Francis Lai crafted the film’s score, but Paramount’s music publishing company felt that the instrumental version of the theme needed words to enhance its emotional impact. Carl Sigman was asked to write the lyrics, and although he initially struggled with the request, he eventually came up with a touching narrative. The first set of lyrics mirrored the film’s storyline but were deemed too downbeat by Paramount executive Robert Evans, who found them unsuited for a mainstream audience. After some revision, Sigman crafted the lyrics we now know, starting with the poignant question, “Where do I begin?”
The song gained significant popularity, with Henry Mancini’s instrumental version also making an impact. Andy Williams and Tony Bennett both released versions in January 1971. The timing of these releases was strategically planned; the instrumental version was released before the film to create a buzz, while the vocal version followed to reinforce the film’s theme in the audience’s mind.
In 1979, Williams revisited the song with a disco rendition, celebrating his 25 years in music. Although this version included both long and short takes, it received mixed reviews, with some critics noting that the disco arrangement didn’t quite suit the original song’s mood.
“(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story” remains a timeless piece, cherished for its emotional depth and the beautiful way it captures the essence of the film it was made for.
Video
Lyrics
Where do I begin
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start
With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There’d never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart
She fills my heart with very special things
With angels’ songs, with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go I’m never lonely
With her around, who could be lonely
I reach for her hand, it’s always there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I’ll need her ’til the stars all burn away
And she’ll be there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I’ll need her ’til the stars all burn away
And she’ll be there