Peak
96
Weeks
4
Score
114
Chart Year
1988
A music video was produced to promote the single. It was later published on YouTube in 2018, and by March 2023, the video had generated more than 6.8 million views
This was a dance cover of American Soul singer Otis Clay's recording from his 1982 album also titled "The Only Way Is Up." It spent 5 weeks at #1 and was the best selling single in the UK in 1988. In the US it reached #96. Yazz explained at the time, "There is a really heavy sentiment to that song. It's about being down-and-out and on the dole but not worrying about it; keep on doing what you want to do because you can get through in the end. It's exactly what I've done to get here now". (quote from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh.)
Oh, oh-ho-ho We've been broken down To the lowest turn Bein' on the bottom line Sure ain't no fun But if we should be evicted, huh-huh From our homes We'll just move somewhere else And still carry on Oh, (hold on) hold on (Hold on) hold on (Hold) woo-ah-ha, baby (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) woo, woo-hoo-hoo-hoo (Ooh) well (yeah) The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up Baby For you and me now Oh, yeah-ha-ha Now we may not know, huh-huh Where our next meal is coming from But with you by my side I'll face what is to come Oh boy, I want to thank you Yeah, for loving me this way Things may be a little hard now But we'll find a brighter day Oh yeah, (hold on) hold on (Hold on) hold on (Hold) woo, woo-hoo-hoo-hoo (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) won't be long (Ooh) oh, yeah (yeah) The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up Baby For you and me now Woo-hoo-hoo, woo-hoo, hoo-hoo! Talk about, the only way is up, baby Talk about the only way Talk about, the only way is up, baby Talk about the only way Talk about, the only way is up, baby (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) hold on (Hold) yeah-ha-ha (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) won't be long (Ooh) no, no, no (yeah) The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up Baby For you and me now The only way is up For you and me now (Hey-oh -) the only way is up (Hey, oh-weah!) for you and me now The only way is up (Ah-ha) for you (ah-ha) and me now (ooh, ooh) The only way is up For you and me now (Woo, woo-ooh-hoo) the only way is up For you and me now
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 26, 1988 | 99 | 27 |
| 2 | Dec 3, 1988 | 96 | 30 |
| 3 | Dec 10, 1988 | 100 | 26 |
| 4 | Dec 17, 1988 | 100 | 26 |