SIMPLY RED - A SONG FOR YOU

A SONG FOR YOU

SIMPLY RED

SONGWRITER: LEON RUSSELL

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: SOMETHING GOT ME STARTED/A SONG FOR YOU

LABEL: SIMPLY RED

GENRE: POP

YEAR: 2006

Simply Red are a British soul and pop band which formed in Manchester in 1985. The lead vocalist of the band is singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall, who, by the time the band initially disbanded in 2010, was the only original member left. Since the release of their debut studio album Picture Book (1985), they have had ten songs reach top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, including "Holding Back the Years" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now", both of which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. They have had five number one albums in the UK, with their 1991 album, Stars, being one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history.

At the 1992 and 1993 Brit Awards, they received the award for Best British Group. They received three Grammy Award nominations: for Best New Artist in 1987, and "Holding Back the Years" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now" for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The band re-formed in 2015. Simply Red have sold over 50 million albums.

"A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album Leon Russell, which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune is one of Russell's best-known compositions. Russell not only sings and plays piano on the recording, but also plays the tenor horn that is accompanying. It has been performed and recorded by over 200 artists, spanning many musical genres. Elton John has called the song an American classic.

One of the first versions of the song that brought it broader attention was by Andy Williams, whose single peaked at #29 on the adult contemporary chart and #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Ray Charles recorded a version that earned him the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

On January 17, 2018, "A Song for You" was added to Grammy Hall of Fame.

I've been so many places in my life and time

I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme

I've acted out my life in stages, with ten thousand people watching

But we're alone now, and I'm singing this song for you

I know your image of me is what I hope to be

I treated you unkindly, but darling can't you see

There's no one more important to me, baby can't you please see through me

Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you

You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing

You came out in front when I was hiding, but now I'm so much better

And if my words don't come together, listen to the melody

Cause my love is in there hiding

I love you in a place where there's no space or time

I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine

And when my life is over, remember when we were together

We were alone and I was singing this song for you

We were alone and I was singing this song for you.