I (Who Have Nothing)

Album

Waterfront

Label

ATCO Records

Genre

Soul

Composer(s)

Carlo Donida; Jerry Leiber;Mogol;Mike Stoller

Entered Chart

Jun 29, 1963

Peak Date

Aug 24, 1963

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Atco 45-6267

B-Side

The Beginning Of Time

This song about unrequited love is featured on The Sopranos soundtrack. >> The song's melody was based on an Italian song, "Uno Dei Tanti," (English: "One of Many"), which King had heard in Italy. King's producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller translated the lyrics into English. Other versions of King's melodramatic soul hit that reached the Billboard charts were performed by: 1966 Terry Knight and the Pack (who later became Grand Funk Railroad) in 1966 (#46) 1970 Liquid Smoke (#82) 1970 Tom Jones (#14) 1979 Sylvester (#46) In the UK Shirley Bassey's George Martin produced version, which peaked at #6 in 1963, is the best known. The song is a favorite for music based reality show contestants. American Idol contests who have performed the song include Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks in the Top 3, Season 10 contestant Haley Reinhart in the Top 4 and season 12 winner Candice Glover in the final. Some critics believe that part of the song's melody was later copied for the Moody Blues' 1967 hit "Nights In White Satin."

I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Adore you and want you so
I'm just a no one with nothing to give you but, oh
I love you
He, he buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But, believe me, dear, when I say
That he can give you the world but he'll never love the way
I love you
He can take you any place he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it's I
Who loves you
I love you
I love you
I love you