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Woman Without Love

Rating:
3.4 / 5

Words & Music: Jerry Chesnut

Her eyes tell the story so well
She tries hard to hide
So little expected
Too often neglected,
A woman stripped of her pride

Always so careful not to cry
Not till I fall asleep
And there in the silence
She lies with a tear on her cheek

The thought comes to mind
Did I read it somehow
Or hear it, I can't quite recall

A man without love is only half a man
But a woman is nothing at all

Recordingdate: 1975/03/11, first released on: Today (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Woman Without Love:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(clavinet)

Others*

(guitar)
(bass)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with Woman Without Love.

Steve V wrote on December 15, 2010
This is a very bad song, musically & lyrically. Hard to believe he couldn't find better material. Not one of Jerry's chestnuts.
2kisses&3scarfs wrote on May 16, 2011
This is a very sad song but I love it. Elvis sings it beautifully.
Deano1 wrote on July 04, 2012
One of the lesser tunes from the "Elvis Today" LP (along with "Bringin' It Back" and "Fairytale"). Still this one has merit and while it is far from Jerry Chesnut's best written song, Elvis still sings it very well. On the chorus, I am almost positive that Elvis sings different words than what is shown above. "The thought comes to mind, That I...." It does not sound like he says anything close to "I've failed somehow". 2 1/2 stars for the track. 3 1/2 stars for the LP thanks to "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" (another Chesnut composition), "And I Love You So", "Pieces Of My Life", "Shake A Hand", "Green, Green Grass Of Home" and "Susan When She Tried".
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 28, 2012
This is such a horrendous song and Elvis should'nt have ever recorded it. It's by far the worst song that he ever recorded in the 1970's.
cookingfat wrote on August 02, 2013
I write country lyrics and to my mind this is one hell of a write and I would be proud to put my name to this.The structure though a little off beat works well with the lovely melody Jerry has composed.Good song a personal favourite too.
Gorse wrote on August 02, 2013
The warmth and compassion in his voice excels on this track, and is part of an Album I enjoy from start to finish. Love the chorus, and although one perhaps can criticise the considered difference in the impact on the sexes. it is a nice performance all round. Worth at least 3 1/2 stars in my book.
Natha wrote on August 02, 2013
The lyrics are of course horrible and one may indeed wonder why Elvis recorded such a lousy lyrics. On the other hand, while ignoring the lyrics and just flow with his voice and the way he uses his unique way of transmitting a deep concern it is definitely worthwhile and by far better than today's music. So turn off the radio and listen to Elvis. You will enjoy much more.
Rob Wanders wrote on August 02, 2013
a nice song but silly lyrics 'cause everyone knows that women are much stronger and more able to live on their own then most man, so they should have swapped the lyrics in : a woman without love is only half a woman but a man is nothing at all. The lyrics are almost as silly as the lyrics from : What every woman lives for. Those lyrics are almost unbeatable silly. As if a woman only lives for to give love to a man; s if women cannot live by them selves and then i dont even mention the fact that there are lots of women who dont give their love to a man but to another woman.
NONE000000 wrote on August 02, 2013
Always hated the lyrics, just as I hate the line in "I Got A Woman" about a woman's "place" being in the home. However, no one can deny that Elvis sings it beautifully and seems to feel, or even empathize with the sadness of the song. But the mentality of the lyrics belongs to a mindset best forgotten.
Cruiser621 wrote on July 11, 2014
This is one of my favorite Elvis songs, and to be honest, one of the reasons I actually purchased the FTD double CD issue of the "Elvis Today" album.
bajo wrote on July 12, 2014
It's "the singer not the song" that makes this brilliant. I've always liked Elvis' singing on this. Elvis could sing the phonebook to me and I think I'd love it too! It's Elvis in a nutshell, so to speak!
Jim Davidson wrote on August 10, 2015
The cover of the Today album looks cheap -- LP, FTD, Legacy. It detracts from the content. There is some great material (e.g. Pieces of My Life, And I Love You So). In 1972, Helen Reddy sang, "I am strong, I am invisible. I am woman!". Woman Without Love seems out of step -- just as "get into that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans" is dated.
elviskid80 wrote on August 10, 2015
I Love This Song!! Everything About It. The Way He Sings It The Music Everything It's Just Fantastic.
TheMemphisFan wrote on August 11, 2015
I usually always hit the skip button.
JerryNodak wrote on February 04, 2019
Definitely not a great song. Maybe not even a good song. Depends on your personal frame of reference. I don't detest the song. Sometimes I listen. Other times I hit the skip button. 2 and a half stars.
atomic powered poste wrote on November 29, 2019
The Today LP isn't bd, but a bit of a mixed bag. The lyrics of this song are sexist, beyond that it sounds like the run of the mill schmaltzy country ballad that was typical for elvis in the 70's. I'm really more of 50's to 60's guy when it comes to Elvis, so this isn't really something to write home about imo. Tolerable in contex of the lp, but that's it. 2 stars at best.
DerekH wrote on October 16, 2022
A drop in his standards here.
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