Tag: Your Love

In between new wave and hair metal, there was an occasional pop/rock hit in the 80s. This one was catchy and it stuck with you. The opening line “Josie’s on a vacation far away, Come around and talk it over” is hard to get out of your head after hearing it. It got massive airplay in my corner of the world.

The song was performed by the Outfield. Formed in Manchester, England and signed to Columbia Records as “The Baseball Boys,” the group changed their name to The Outfield.  They released their debut album Play Deep in 1985 which peaked at #9 in the Billboard Album Charts. Your Love was on the album and peaked at #6 in the Billboard 100, #37 in Canada, and #83 in the UK.

“Your Love” was written by the band’s guitarist, John Spinks, who died of liver cancer in 2014 at age 60.

I don’t know whether I like the song or hate it because I can still hear the damn thing in my head.

From Songfacts

With a distinctive guitar riff and an unforgettable opening line, “Your Love” became one of the most memorable hits of the ’80s. When lead singer Tony Lewis declares, “Josie’s on a vacation far away, come around and talk it over,” we know he’s up to something. Our hero spends the rest of the song in seduction mode, trying to convince this girl (probably and ex-girlfriend) to have a one-night-stand. He pulls every trick from the player’s handbook:

Nobody Will Ever Know (“Stay the night but keep it undercover”)
I Really Need Comfort (“Another shoulder to cry upon”)
I Don’t Know Where Else To Turn (“I ain’t got many friends left to talk to”)
It Won’t Mean Anything (“I just wanna use your love tonight”)

Does he capture his prey? We never find out, but it’s clear that Josie deserves better.

The song became an ’80s classic and the showcase song for the band, which scored four more Top 40 hits: “All the Love in the World” (#19, 1985), “Since You’ve Been Gone” (#31, 1987), “Voices of Babylon” (#25, 1989) and “For You” (#21, 1990).

In 2013, Saturday Night Live did a skit based on this song where host Josh Hutcherson speaks in the song’s lyrics, trying to convince Josie’s friend to have an affair. In the skit, Hutcherson is Josie’s younger brother. It’s a great visualization of the dynamic, as the girl rebuffs him at first, but is drawn in when he gets to the blue talk (“I can’t hide the way I’m feelin’…”).

Your Love

Josie’s on a vacation far away
Come around and talk it over
So many things that I want to say
You know I like my girls a little bit older

I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight

I ain’t got many friends left to talk to
Nowhere to run when I’m in trouble
You know I’d do anything for you
Stay the night but keep it under cover

I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight

Try to stop my hands from shaking
But something in my mind’s not making sense
It’s been a while since we were all alone
But I can’t hide the way I’m feeling

As you’re leaving please would you close the door?
And don’t forget what I told you
Just ’cause you’re right that don’t mean I’m wrong
Another shoulder to cry upon

I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight
I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight
I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight
Use your love, lose your love, your love!
I don’t want to lose your love tonight
(I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna)
Lose your love tonight (your love)
Lose your love tonight (your love)
Lose your love tonight (your love)
(Lose your) I don’t want to lose your love tonight