Peak
13
Weeks
18
Score
2,610
Chart Year
1977
It's a livin' thing It's a terrible thing to lose There has been lots of speculation as to what this song is about, with a popular rumor being that it is an anti-abortion statement. ELO frontman Jeff Lynne has said it is simply about the loss of love, although its initial inspiration was a bout of food poisoning. He let that slip in a talk with Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 2014. "You'll never be able to listen to it the same again," he said. "I wouldn't want anyone to think it's about a bad paella on a Spanish holiday." >> The song features uncredited vocals by Patti Quatro (sister of Suzi Quatro), Brie Brandt, and Addie Lee, who were all one time members of the female rock group Fanny. According to Suzi Quatro's autobiography the trio sang the "higher and higher" parts. "Livin' Thing" returned to a Billboard chart for the first time in 40 years in 2017 as a result of its featuring in Volkswagen's "The New King" commercial. Fueled by its appearance in the ad, the tune entered the Rock Digital Songs Sales chart. The Beautiful South covered the song for their 2004 covers album Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs. Released as a single, their version reached #24 on the UK charts.
Sailin' away on the crest of a wave It's like magic Oh, rollin' and ridin' and slippin' and slidin' It's magic And you, and your sweet desire You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby It's a livin' thing It's a terrible thing to lose It's a given thing What a terrible thing to lose I'm taking a dive Dive Making believe this is what you conceived From your worst day (I'm taking a dive) Oh, moving in line then you look back in time To the first day (I'm taking, I'm taking) And you, and your sweet desire (Don't you do it, don't you do it) You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby It's a livin' thing It's a terrible thing to lose It's a given thing What a terrible thing to lose I'm taking a dive on the slide, hey Takin' a dive 'cause you can't halt the slide Floating downstream (I'm taking a dive) Oh, so let her go don't start spoiling the show It's a bad dream (I'm taking, I'm taking) And you, and your sweet desire (Don't you do it, don't you do it) You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby It's a livin' thing It's a terrible thing to lose It's a given thing What a terrible thing to lose It's a livin' thing It's a terrible thing to lose It's a given thing
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 23, 1976 | 88 | 38 |
| 2 | Oct 30, 1976 | 60 | 66 |
| 3 | Nov 6, 1976 | 46 | 80 |
| 4 | Nov 13, 1976 | 40 | 86 |
| 5 | Nov 20, 1976 | 32 | 94 |
| 6 | Nov 27, 1976 | 28 | 98 |
| 7 | Dec 4, 1976 | 26 | 100 |
| 8 | Dec 11, 1976 | 21 | 105 |
| 9 | Dec 18, 1976 | 19 | 107 |
| 10 | Dec 25, 1976 | 15 | 111 |
| 11 | Jan 1, 1977 | 15 | 111 |
| 12 | Jan 8, 1977 | 13 | 113 |
| 13 | Jan 15, 1977 | 13 | 113 |
| 14 | Jan 22, 1977 | 17 | 109 |
| 15 | Jan 29, 1977 | 28 | 98 |
| 16 | Feb 5, 1977 | 34 | 92 |
| 17 | Feb 12, 1977 | 38 | 88 |
| 18 | Feb 19, 1977 | 53 | 73 |