Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) Explained

Friendly Persuasion
Published:	1956
Composer:	Dimitri Tiomkin
Lyricist:	Paul Francis Webster

"Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)" is a popular song with music by Dimitri Tiomkin and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. It was published in 1956 and appeared in the 1956 film of the same name.^[1] At the 29th Academy Awards, Friendly Persuasion was nominated for the Best Music – Song but lost out to "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)".

Background

The title is an obvious play on words, since the film centers on a Quaker family, a religion known as the "Society of Friends". Thus, they are said to be of the "Friendly" persuasion.

1956 recordings

• The best-known version of the song was recorded by Pat Boone^[2] and it reached the No. 5 position in the USA charts and No. 3 in the UK.^[3]
• Another recording by The Four Aces followed Boone's in 1956^[4] and reached number 45 peak position on Billboards pop music chart.^[5]

Other recordings

• Johnny Mathis included the song in his 1963 album Romantically.
• Bing Crosby recorded the song for his album Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love (1968 version).
• Aretha Franklin recorded the song for her album Soft and Beautiful (1969).^[6]

Popular culture

• The Four Aces version of the song was used in the 2013 BBC television series, Call the Midwife.

Notes and References

1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049233/soundtrack Friendly Persuation (1956)
2. Web site: 45cat - Pat Boone - Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) / Chains of Love - Dot - USA - 45-15490 . 2014-04-22 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081803/http://www.45cat.com/record/4515490 . dead .
3. Book: Davies. Chris. British and American Hit Singles. 1998. BT Batsford. London, UK. 0-7134-8275-3. 493.
4. Web site: Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts - Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love). 28 April 2021. 45cat.com.
5. Billboard 3. Nov. 1956, p. 36, respectively Billboard 1. Sept. 1956, p. 44
6. Web site: The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging/Soft and Beautiful - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic. 28 April 2021. AllMusic.