Unveiling the Journey: Charley Pride‘s “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love”
Step into the world of budding songwriter John Schweers as he embarks on a transformative path in Nashville. Schweers arrived in the music capital with hopes and dreams, having already experienced a taste of success with a song placement. Despite the setback of his collaborator being dropped by Capitol Records, Schweers remained undeterred.
His perseverance paid off when he signed with Pi-Gem Music Publishing Company, helmed by the visionary Tom Collins. Encouraged to explore upbeat compositions, Schweers began crafting a song that would soon become his breakthrough. Drawing inspiration from the popular saying “don’t fight the feeling,” Schweers developed lyrics and a catchy melody in his apartment. As he tapped his foot to keep time, his downstairs landlady mistakenly believed he was nailing something to the wall. Schweers clarified, revealing his true intent as a songwriter, and fortunately, he was allowed to continue pursuing his passion.
Under Collins’ guidance, Schweers honed and refined “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love” through multiple rewrites. When the publisher deemed it ready, Schweers recorded a demo tape. Little did he know that a surprise awaited him back home in Texas. On Christmas day, Schweers received a package with a note proclaiming it as his present. Inside was a tape of his song, but to his astonishment, it wasn’t his own voice he heard. It was the unmistakable sound of Charley Pride. Schweers was overwhelmed with excitement, as it had been his dream to have Pride record one of his songs since joining Pi-Gem.
RCA wasted no time in releasing “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love” as a single on April 17, 1973. The song quickly gained momentum, and six weeks later, Schweers had reason to celebrate. It soared to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart on June 30th, marking Charley Pride’s 12th number one hit. This success not only solidified Pride’s reign as a country music icon but also established a fruitful artist-writer relationship with Schweers. The duo went on to create two more number one hits together: “Amazing Love” and “She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory” in the following years.
Schweers’s talents extended beyond Pride’s repertoire, as other notable artists like Ronnie Milsap frequently tapped into Pi-Gem’s catalog and recorded his compositions, including the chart-toppers “Daydreams About Night Things,” “What Goes On When the Sun Goes Down,” and “Let My Love Be Your Pillow.”
The story behind Charley Pride’s “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love” showcases the resilience, collaboration, and magical moments that define the journey of a songwriter in the music industry. It serves as a testament to the power of dedication and the rewards that await those who follow their passion with unwavering determination.
- Single by Charley Pride
- Album- Sweet Country
- B-side- “Tennessee Girl”
- Released- April 1973
- Genre- Country
- Length- 2:05
- Label- RCA
- Songwriter- John Schweers
- Producer- Jack Clement
Lyrics
Don’t ya, don’t ya, don’t ya fight the feelings of love
‘Cause love is something nobody ever gets enough of
So reach out your hand, take in all the sunshine from above
Well, now love is believing so don’t fight the feelings
Don’t fight the feelings of love
A boy and a girl in a big spinning world
Upside down in love from the start
Sunny days and laughing skies true love in both their eyes
Spending happy good times in the park
Learning all about living taking and the giving
Love is growing stronger every day
Well, now there’ll never be another ’cause they’re trusting each other
Good love seems to just work out that way
I said now don’t ya, don’t ya, don’t ya fight the feelings of love
‘Cause love is something nobody ever gets enough of
So reach out your hand, take in all the sunshine from above
Well, now love is believing so don’t fight the feelings
Don’t fight the feelings of love
Don’t fight the feelings, don’t fight the feelings
Don’t fight the feelings of love
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