About the Song

Ah, Jim Reeves’ “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” – a true classic of country music. This tender ballad, released in 1964, has become a timeless expression of devotion, a song that continues to be a favorite for weddings, anniversaries, and any occasion that calls for a heartfelt declaration of love.

Reeves, known for his smooth baritone voice and gentle demeanor, perfectly embodies the lovelorn narrator of the song. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, a series of questions that express the singer’s deep affection and fear of losing his loved one. “Have I told you lately that I love you?” The repeated refrain becomes a sweet mantra, a constant reminder of the love that binds them together.

The melody of “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” is equally endearing. It’s a slow waltz, with a gentle, swaying rhythm that creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The instrumentation is spare, featuring a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment that allows Reeves’ voice to take center stage.

This stripped-down approach allows the raw emotion of the lyrics to shine through. We hear the desperation in the singer’s voice as he pleads, “My world would end today if I should lose you,” and the tenderness as he whispers, “This heart will break in two if you refuse me.”

The song’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its universality. The desire to express love and the fear of losing someone special are emotions that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds. “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” offers a simple yet powerful way to communicate those feelings, making it a timeless treasure in the country music canon.

Whether it’s a song for couples young and old, or simply a reminder to cherish those we love, Jim Reeves’ “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” continues to touch hearts and inspire declarations of affection.

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Lyrics: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You 

Have I told you lately that I love you
Could I tell you once again somehow
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Well darlin’ I’m telling you nowMy world would end today if I should lose you
I’m no good without you, anyhow
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
Well darlin’ I’m telling you nowHave I told you lately how I miss you
When the stars are shining in the sky
Have I told you why the nights are long
When you’re not with me
Well darlin’ I’m telling you nowMy world would end today if I should lose you
I’m just no good without you, anyhow
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
My darlin’, I’m telling you now…

 

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MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?