I Swear

Album

All-4-One

Label

Atlantic Records

Genre

Soul

Composer(s)

Gary Baker;Frank J. Myers

Entered Chart

Apr 23, 1994

Peak Date

May 21, 1994

Released

April 22, 1994

Recorded

David Foster's Malibu home studio

Catalog #

Blitzz/Atlantic 87243

B-Side

Here If You're Ready

This was originally a country hit for John Michael Montgomery, topping the Country chart for four weeks in February 1994 and also reaching #42 on the Hot 100. All-4-One turned it into an R&B song with a group vocal, taking it to the top of the Hot 100 in May 1994, where it stayed for a staggering 11 weeks. Montgomery's version was the first single from his album Kickin It Up; he also included it on his 2002 album Love Songs. This was written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers, who wrote and recorded as Baker & Myers. In an interview with Songwriter Universe magazine, Myers explained that he and Baker wrote the song in 1987 and recorded the demo at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The couldn't convince anyone to record the song, but in 1992 they recorded a new demo of the song which a year later got the attention of John Michael Montgomery, who recorded it in 1993. Atlantic Records thought the song had huge crossover potential, and considered having Montgomery record a pop version, but the label head didn't want to upset country radio stations, so they had their new vocal group All-4-One record the song with David Foster producing the track. Their version was released as the second single from their debut album in the spring of 1994, about six months after Montgomery's version was released as a single. In the US, this was one of the biggest hits of 1994, spending 11 weeks at #1 (only "I'll Make Love To You" by Boyz II Men held the top spot for longer that year: 14 weeks). In Britain it only reached #2 on the charts, where it was held out of #1 for seven weeks by Wet Wet Wet's "Love Is All Around." This won a Grammy in 1995 for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. All-4-One was assembled in Antelope Valley, California by Tim O'Brien, owner of Blitzz Records. He had them record the doo wop classic "So Much in Love," which rose to #5 in March 1994, earning the group an entire album. "I Swear" was a last-minute addition to the album, and one of two songs produced by David Foster. Released as their next single, "I Swear" went to #1 in America on the chart dated May 21, 1994 - the group was playing gigs at Disneyland at the time. The group had another hit in 1995 with "I Can Love You Like That," also produced by Foster, which reached #5 US. In 1996, they made #30 with "Someday." This has been used in a number of movies and TV shows, including the 2017 "Winter of Our Discontent" episode of American Horror Story: Cult where the cult leader (played by Evan Peters) concocts a copulation ritual set to this song. "This is a holy song now," he says. "Like the Lord's Prayer. From this day forward, it shall be played whenever a messiah is conceived." Other TV appearances include: South Park ("Cartman Finds Love" - 2012) The Vampire Diaries ("Welcome to Paradise" - 2014) Movies: Just Friends (2005) The Social Network (2010) Despicable Me 2 (2013) Sisters (2015) "I Swear" isn't the only #1 Country hit to reach the top of the Hot 100 in a version by a different artist: In 1992, "I Will Always Love You" pulled it off when Whitney Houston's rendition of Dolly Parton's song hit the top spot. Like All-4-One's "I Swear," Houston's track was produced by David Foster.

I swear by the moon and the stars in the skies
And I swear like the shadow that's by your side

I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my part
'Cause I'll stand beside you through the years
And you'll only cry those happy tears
And though I'll make mistakes, I'll never break your heart

And I swear by the moon and the stars in the skies
I'll be there
And I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there

For better or worse, 'til death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear
Ooh

I'll give you everything I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the walls
And when (and when)
Just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
'Cause as the time turns the page, my love won't age at all

And I swear (I swear)
By the moon and the stars in the skies
I'll be there (I'll be there)

And I swear (and I swear)
Like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)

For better or worse 'til death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart (beat of my heart)
And I swear (oh yeah)

I swear (and I swear)
By the moon and the stars in the skies
I'll be there (I'll be there)
(And I swear) I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)
For better or worse (better or worse)
'Til death do us part (oh no)
(I'll love you with) every single beat of my heart
(I swear) I swear