About The Song
“(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” shares a striking resemblance to The Righteous Brothers’ iconic hit, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”—both featuring soaring vocals and lush symphonic arrangements. Written by the prolific Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song was originally intended as a follow-up to their 1965 hit but was scrapped because Mann and Weil felt it was too similar to its predecessor.
Phil Spector, who produced “Lovin’ Feelin’,” had asked the pair to come up with another hit in the same vein. However, when Mann and Weil felt the song lacked originality, they chose not to deliver it to him.
By 1966, The Righteous Brothers had signed a substantial $1 million contract with MGM Records and needed a hit to solidify their new deal. Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley revived the scrapped song, with Medley taking on the production duties himself, using many of Spector’s signature production techniques, such as the grandiose orchestration and emotional vocal delivery.
Commercial Success
Upon release, “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” quickly became a commercial success. It reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for three weeks. This was a significant achievement, marking the duo’s return to the top of the charts following their earlier success.
Legacy and Reception
Despite its success, the song never achieved the lasting cultural impact of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” or “Unchained Melody.” Cynthia Weil, one of the songwriters, remarked that the song would always feel like “Lovin’ Feelin’ sideways.” It has remained a beloved track among fans of The Righteous Brothers, but it hasn’t had the same resurgence in films, TV shows, or commercials as their more iconic hits. Nevertheless, it stands as a testament to their vocal power and the lush, orchestral pop sound of the 1960s.
Lyric
Girl, I can’t let you do this
Let you walk away
Girl, how can I live through this?
When you’re all I wake up for each day, baby
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I?
I never had much going
But at least I had you
How can you walk out knowing
I ain’t got nothing left if you do, baby?
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I?
Oh, what good am I?
Baby, I can’t make it without you
And I’m, I’m telling you, honey
You’re my reason for laughing, for crying
For living and for dying
Baby, I can’t make it without you
Please, I’m begging you, baby
If you go, it will kill me, I swear it
Girl, I just can’t bear it
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I?
What good am I?
Mm, mm, mm, mm (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Ooh, mm, mm, mm, mm (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)Advertisement
