Peak
1
Weeks
21
Score
3,993
Chart Year
1973
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This was written by ballad lyricist Ron Miller and songwriter/producer Michael Masser. It was Diana Ross' first hit produced by Masser; he continued to produce more songs for her over the years, including "Last Time I Saw Him," "Theme From Mahogany," "I Thought It Took a Little Time" and "It's My Turn." This song was somewhat of a comeback for Ross in the music industry as it was released when she was receiving excellent reviews for her film debut Lady Sings the Blues. Ross felt that this song was too difficult for her and recorded several takes on it. In a documentary about her, Masser said that she tried very hard to "get the vocals right for this particular song" and that it was a "draining experience." Luckily, it became her longest-charting Pop record and also became her first #1 Adult Contemporary hit. >> Miller was impressed with Masser's pop composition, but was worried a pure pop record would alienate Ross' fans, especially since Gordy was demanding a hit in case her performance in Lady Sings The Blues went sour. For some added soul, Miller borrowed from one of Ross' earlier hits. "I didn't want Diana to lose her base so we ripped off a riff from Ashford and Simpson," Miller explained in J. Randy Taraborrelli's book Diana. "One part is straight out of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' And then we had her talking in parts, all of which we did to keep the identity she established with 'Mountain' and to add some soul to the record." Miller explained how the song came together: "I had already dreamed up this title, 'Touch Me in the Morning,' but I didn't have the vaguest idea what it meant ... So I analyzed Diane as a person. I said, 'Well, this girl is out on her own now. She's an adult and a movie star. She's also a contemporary woman and ... much more liberal about expressing her sexual values. Whereas once upon a time, only a man could say something like that, now a liberated woman like Diane could. However, though she's ostensibly a sophisticated woman, she's still crying inside to be touched in the morning.' It was just a very cold, calculated and wonderful job of crafting." This was used in the 1996 movie Phenomenon, starring John Travolta. It was also used on The Sopranos in the 2007 episode "Remember When."
Play Video Touch me in the morning Then just walk away We don't have tomorrow But we had yesterday (Hey!) Wasn't it me who said that Nothing good's gonna last forever? And wasn't it me who said, Let's just be glad for the time together? It must've been hard to tell me That you've given all you had to give I can understand you're feeling that way Everybody's got their life to live Well, I can say goodbye in the cold morning light But I can't watch love die in the warmth of the night If I've got to be strong Don't you know I need to have tonight when you're gone? Till you go I need to lie here and think about The last time that you'll touch me in the morning Then just close the door Leave me as you found me, empty like before (Hey!) Wasn't it yesterday We used to laugh at the wind behind us? Didn't we run away and hope that time wouldn't try to find us (Didn't we run) Didn't we take each other to a place where no one's ever been? Yeah, I really need you near me tonight 'Cause you'll never take me there again Let me watch you go with the sun in my eyes We've seen how love can grow Now we'll see how it dies If I've got to be strong Don't you know I need to have tonight when you're gone? Till you go I need to hold you until the time Your hands reach out and touch me In the morning (Mornings where blue and gold and we could feel one another living) Then just walk away (We walked with a dream to hold and we could take what the world was giving) We don't have tomorrow (There's no tomorrow here, there's only love and the time to chase it) But we had yesterday (But yesterday's gone my love, there's only now and it's time to face it) touch me in the morning
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 2, 1973 | 89 | 37 |
| 2 | Jun 9, 1973 | 65 | 61 |
| 3 | Jun 16, 1973 | 62 | 64 |
| 4 | Jun 23, 1973 | 58 | 68 |
| 5 | Jun 30, 1973 | 44 | 82 |
| 6 | Jul 7, 1973 | 29 | 97 |
| 7 | Jul 14, 1973 | 21 | 105 |
| 8 | Jul 21, 1973 | 17 | 109 |
| 9 | Jul 28, 1973 | 11 | 115 |
| 10 | Aug 4, 1973 | 7 | 119 |
| 11 | Aug 11, 1973 | 4 | 122 |
| 12 | Aug 18, 1973 | 1 | 125 |
| 13 | Aug 25, 1973 | 3 | 123 |
| 14 | Sep 1, 1973 | 4 | 122 |
| 15 | Sep 8, 1973 | 5 | 121 |
| 16 | Sep 15, 1973 | 7 | 119 |
| 17 | Sep 22, 1973 | 9 | 117 |
| 18 | Sep 29, 1973 | 14 | 112 |
| 19 | Oct 6, 1973 | 18 | 108 |
| 20 | Oct 13, 1973 | 25 | 101 |