A series of winter holidays is rapidly approaching, possibly intended to divert our attention away from the long, cold, dark nights have already begun, with a vengeance in some areas of the country. Some have already sent their letters to Santa, including their wish list, and for those whose wants are many, some have likely discovered that the postage is cheaper if the list is included on a recordable DVD. The title of this week’s song may serve as a reminder for some of us who haven’t finalized our wish lists yet. If that hoped-for gift doesn’t arrive in late December, the similar wish could be made for Valentine’s Day.
Unless you were around in 1950, you may not remember when this week’s feature song was released. Even if you were, depending upon your musical tastes, you still may not have heard it. This was a time when songs could reach #1 on the R&B charts, as did this song, and yet be completely absent from the pop charts. This frequently covered blues ballad was considered one of the most influential of its time. Quite possibly rare for its time, the lyrics combined an awareness of world conflict, with a plaintive expression of the need for love.