Loves Me Like a Rock explained

Loves Me Like a Rock
Cover:Loves Me Like a Rock cover.jpg
Caption:Single cover (Netherlands release)
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Paul Simon
Album:There Goes Rhymin' Simon
B-Side:Learn How to Fall
Recorded:1972
Studio:Muscle Shoals (Sheffield, Alabama)
Genre:
Label:Columbia
Chronology:Paul Simon
Prev Title:Kodachrome
Prev Year:1973
Next Title:American Tune
Next Year:1973

"Loves Me Like a Rock" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the second single from his third studio album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), released on Columbia Records. It features background vocals from the Dixie Hummingbirds, a Southern black gospel group. Although the lyrics are not typically associated with gospel music, the Dixie Hummingbirds were eager to record the song with Simon, and they recorded their own version soon after for their 1973 album We Love You Like a Rock/Every Day and Every Hour.[2] [3]

The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100; it was also a top five hit in Canada. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.

Lyrics and music

According to Billboard magazine, the lyrics of "Loves Me Like a Rock" describe "how a mother loved her son, even when he became the president" and the music has a quasi-gospel flavor.[4] Cash Box said that the song combines "the grace of Simon with a touch of gospel."[5]

Chart performance

Paul Simon's version of "Loves Me Like a Rock" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of October 6, 1973, kept from the summit by Cher's "Half-Breed".[6] It remained in the Top 40 for 14 weeks and was certified a gold record.[7] It also spent two weeks atop the Billboard easy listening chart in September 1973.[2] It reached the Top 40 in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] The gospel version of "Loves Me Like a Rock" by the Dixie Hummingbirds reached number 72 on the Billboard R&B chart[2] and won the group a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel performance in 1974.

Weekly charts

Chart (1973)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[9] 19
Canada (RPM) Top Singles[10] 5
Canada Pop Music Playlist (RPM)[11] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 39
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[13] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)Rank
Canada 100 RPM[14] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 27
US Cash Box[16] 22

Personnel

Appearances in other media

Paul Simon made a promotional appearance on The Muppet Show in 1980 in support of his movie and album One-Trick Pony. The show ended with a performance of "Loves Me Like a Rock" featuring the Muppets.[17]

The song was featured in the end credits of the 2005 film .[18]

Christian rock band Third Day covered the song on their 2017 album Revival.[19]

The B-Side song "Learn How To Fall" was featured in the last scene of the 2003 film Something's Gotta Give.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". . August 23, 2019 . Later that same year, Simon again made it up to #2 with the giddy, gospel-infused "Loves Me Like A Rock".. June 28, 2023.
  2. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)
  3. Web site: We Love You Like a Rock/Every Day and Every Hour – The Dixie Hummingbirds . AllMusic . July 17, 2020.
  4. News: Top Single Picks. Billboard. July 25, 2020. July 21, 1973. 75.
  5. News: CashBox Record Reviews. July 21, 1973. 21. December 11, 2021. Cash Box.
  6. [Fred Bronson|Bronson, Fred]
  7. [Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]
  8. Web site: the streak | full Official Chart History . Official Charts Company.
  9. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  10. RPM100: Singles. 20. 7. September 29, 1973. RPM. Ottawa

    Library and Archives Canada

    . November 12, 2015.
  11. The Programmers' Pop Music Playlist. 10. 29. October 13, 1973. RPM. Ottawa

    Library and Archives Canada

    . November 12, 2015.
  12. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 499.
  13. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Paul Simon|chart=Adult Contemporary}} Paul Simon – Chart history]. November 13, 2015. Billboard.
  14. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . November 1, 2016.
  15. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973 . musicoutfitters.com. 1998–2020 . July 17, 2020.
  16. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1973 . November 1, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715135835/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1973YESP.html . July 15, 2014 . dead .
  17. Paul Simon Jams With the Muppets in 1980. Andy. Greene. . October 10, 2013 . July 17, 2020.
  18. Web site: Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005). IMDb . July 17, 2020.
  19. Third Day Talks Returning to Southern Rock Roots on 'Revival,' Shares Behind-the-Scenes Video. June 27, 2017. Billboard . July 17, 2020.