Shirley Bassey - I Who Have Nothing - (1963 Recording)

1963 - Shirley Bassey along with Ben E King are the first of many artists to record this classic song, I Who Have Nothing. Both Bassey and King recorded this song in 1963. Over the past 50 years many other artists have either recorded or performed this song live. Shirley, however, is the only artists to achieve a top 10 with this song, and her recording peaked at # 6 on the UK charts.

Dame Shirley has been faithful to this song over the past 50 years by including it in her concert line-up decade after decade. She also has performed this song differently over the years starting with this recording as someone who is very young with a lost childhood crush. After a decade or so, and as Bassey matured her musical lyrics shortened on this song to portray an older diva who is bitter about the other woman and also about not finding her own Mr. Right. Dame Shirley has achieved many highs in her career but has experienced many personal tragedies as well; she uses these personal experiences to bring genuine dramatic life to this song, and I personally consider this recording as a benchmark.

ABOUT This Song:
"I (Who Have Nothing)" is based on the Italian song "Uno Dei Tanti" (English: "One of Many"), with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti. "Uno Dei Tanti" was released by Joe Sentieri in 1961. The English lyrics for "I (Who Have Nothing)" were written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who also produced the Ben E. King record using the backing track from Joe Sentieri's record (orchestra conducted by Luis Enriquez Bacalov).

Shirley Bassey released this song (produced by George Martin) in 1963, reaching #6 on the UK charts. She performs the song at almost every live concert she gives, and it is on many of her compilation albums, including I Am What I Am with the London Symphony Orchestra, and her 1989 album La Mujer where she sings it in Spanish ("Hoy No Tengo Nada"). She has also been instrumental in making Donida's music known to English-speaking audiences through arranging for translations from the Italian, having performed with the composer conducting his own music on Italian television. The Ben E. King version was also released in 1963 and reached #29 on the Billboard charts. Other versions which reached the Billboard charts were performed by Terry Knight and the Pack in 1966 (#46), by Liquid Smoke in 1970 (#82), by Warhorse in 1972 and by Sylvester in 1979 (#40). The most popular version in the US was by Tom Jones, peaking at #14 in 1970. Other versions of "I (Who Have Nothing)" have been recorded by Petula Clark, Al Kooper, The Spectres, who later became Status Quo, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Jedi Mind Tricks, Hodges, James & Smith, Luther Vandross & Martha Wash, Liza Minnelli, Brook Benton, Neil Diamond, Joe Cocker, Normie Rowe, Katherine Jenkins, Ijahman Levi, Linda Jones, Little Milton, Bob Guillaume, Midnight Blue, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Dee Dee Warwick, Sam Sorono (1950-2008), Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and Vassilikos from Raining Pleasure; in January 2012, Gladys Knight released a dance remixes EP of her cover of the song. In recent years, Idol competitors Jordin Sparks, Haley Reinhart and Candice Glover have performed this song, keeping the magic alive.

LYRICS:
LYRICS:
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Adore you and want you so
I'm just a no one,
with nothing to give you but oh
I love you
You, you buy her diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But believe me, dear, when I say
That she can give you the world
(sometimes: That you can give her the world)
But she'll never love you the way
I love you

You can take her any place she wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you
with My nose pressed up against the window paneI,

I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you, go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else
When darling it is I
Who love you

I Love You....
I Love You...
I Love You........

Special Thanks to Pieter, Astrid and others from the Shirley Bassey blog, Tal from the Diamond Bassey website, and all those who have contributed wonderful pictures of Shirley!

[carolleenkelmann]

This recording of the song is the most appealing of all that are available to hear because there is a certain amount of innocence that is present which has not been lost over the years in which an artist develops.

[adrianovasconcelos]

In my humble opinion - I am no musician - this is one of the best songs ever written, both in terms of melody and heartfelt lyrics. Dame Shirley Bassey also delivers easily the best version I have ever heard of it - this one. Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, Roberta Flack, even the original by Ben E. King, simply are no match. Thanks for posting

[moustafazahra]

One of the greatest songs sung by one of the greatest female vocalists of all time.

[davidhenrywall]

What a singer . One of the best voices ever

[MartinaPatriciaGuest]

Talk about CLASSY, when GOD made Her Voice He broke the mold. Martina Patricia Poet Guest ❤️💋💋💋💓💞💛💚💓💞💙💕💞💝💖💕💞💝💋💋💋

[mikeclarke]

HOW can anyone give this a thumbs down ''sigh''

[michaeltutty]

An incredibly beautiful melody sung by one of the best vocal musicians going. The incredible thing about Dame Shirley is the way she just nails it every time. The consistency over the years is remarkable.

[rickrodrigues]

I first heard this beautiful song in the '60's by Ben E King & thought how strangely it imitated real life. Now after over 50 odd years I've stumbled onto it again...& what memories it has evoked! Lot's of other singers have performed this song but Shirely Bassey gives a stellar performance here with lot's of emotion & passion...perhaps the best version!

[perlinascoon]

sometime i feel i should of be in that time i love this kind of song it make my soul feel so happy i just can not explain

[ShadowsGathered]

What a voice! And it seems absolutely effortless on her part. Amazing.

[celiobatista]

Me dá até é cantar com o coração ❤ 👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[TheJamaicanstud]

Shirley Bassey is easily the GREATEST female vocalist in the entire history of the world & popular music.

[M.O.G.]

these song writers are such a special breed.
they write words that creeps inside of you and explode.
and they bring tears to prove it.

[bgueberdenteich]

November 2020-still in lockdown and feeling low . Thank you for making my day a little brighter ! Every little bit helps !

[domingoanelo]

Que hermosa versión, es una delicia.

[reddragonready]

Found this through that conversation on Candice v Bassey. For me Bassey still the one who truly owns this song. She LIVES it when she sings it. Candice, like Carey said, " makes it a vehicle for her voice" . Personally I think a car is a vehicle, a song is not. ;-)
Thanks very much for uploading this version. :-)

[doreenfawcett]

I adore this one Shirley and beautiful photos Xxxxx hugs Dee

[erdalonurhan]

So touching.. Listened to this song live in London (Palladium?) decades ago. Still my favourite, both the song and singer...

[bodiloto]

meravigliosa .
sublime .
magnifica .

[robertboies]

Beirut 1963 Cité Sportive / Camille Chamoun Stadium "Sport City" -- had Olympic-sized swimming + diving pools and a jukebox / dj. Happy memories!