Greatest Love Songs Ever: #21 “It Had to be You”

By Tom Quiner, Board President, Pulse Life Advocates

“It Had to be You” was written a century ago and has never gone away. It experienced a resurgence in 1989 when featured in the film, “When Harry Met Sally,” as performed by Harry Connick Jr .

There are so many good versions of this song, that it is impossible to pick just one. Let’s begin with Sinatra (above), who includes the front-loaded verse. Too often, singers leave it off, and yet it sets up the whole song:

“Why do I do, just as you say, 

why must I just, give you your way,

Why do I sigh, why don’t I try – to forget?

It must have been, that something lovers call fate

Kept me saying: “I have to wait”

I saw them all, just couldn’t fall – ’til we met.”

Nice set up to the song’s theme: “It had to be you.” And what a nice expression of the soul-searing pull of a monogamous relationship, so out of vogue these days.

Some reading this series may note my love of songs from yesteryear. And yet a majority of the songs I’m touting were written well before I was born. That’s because these songs are timeless, often characterized as ‘standards.’

Harry Connick Jr. sings “It Had to be You.”

Even Elton John acknowledged that the vast majority of songs coming out these days are “disposable music.” He wrote about the songwriter’s dream of someday writing a standard in his song from 1995, “Bitter Fingers”:

“And there’s a chance that one day

You might write a standard lads, 

So churn them out quick and fast,

And we’ll still pat your backs

‘Cause we need what we can get to launch another dozen acts.”

Yes, there are good songs coming out these days, but they seem pitiably few and far between. If you’ve heard a love song that moved you recently, be sure to share it with me.

In the meantime, take a few minutes to delight in “It Had to be You,” with lyrics by Gus Kahn and music by Isham Jones.

Harry Nillson sings “It Had to be You”

I’m particularly fond of Harry Nilsson’s version of the song. The quirky Mr. Nilsson recorded an incredible album of standards in 1973, titled “A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night.” He features three of the songs on my list of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever” on this wonderful concept album. My wife and I have listened to it a hundred times at least. (Nilsson used an alternate verse, written by Kahn as a joke, in his rendition. Take a listen. It’ll make you laugh.)

By the same token, if you delight in babies, born and unborn, take a minute and make a gift to Pulse Life Advocates. Help us save lives by expanding our pro-life educational outreach into the culture. This series recognizes that love is the antidote to abortion. Help us spread the love.