Expert: Bong Santos - 12/23/2007

Question
Hello Bong:   

I was wondering if you could help me get the full lyrics and corresponding artist for a couple of songs that seem to have been lost in time.   

The first one goes like this: I wanted you, thought you knew; Now I find you gone what did I do wrong?  Please don't act this way, I want you back to stay I need you now.   I'm on my own and so alone, I want to make amends;  why can't we be friends? hear me when I say, I want you back today, I need you now...   That's all I remember of that song, naturally I think the title was "I Need You Now".

The next one goes like this:   Hello Monday, what can you say?  I bet you knew that she was going away. I spoke to Sunday she wouldn't tell The words I've written have kept their secret so well .. everyday another tear seems to fall between the lines... words of love be so cruel, it's a diary of a fool   That's all I remember from that song and I think the title was "A Diary of a Fool". The songs received minimal airplay back in the day. I have been trying to get more information about the songs on the Internet but I've been very unsuccessful. I was hoping that you could help me. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.   

Thanks,
Alec Lammer

Answer
Dear Alec,

You got lucky, man, for I know both of your songs.

The first one would be I NEED YOU NOW by early 80's AOR rock group ALLIANCE. Made up of MARK BUCCHARE (lead vocals), PAT HAND (guitars), MARK HECKERT (keyboards), BRADLEY DAVIDSON (bass) and DAVID PRIDEMORE (drums). They released their album ALLIANCE in 1982 whcih included this rock ballad written by PRIDEMORE and HECKERT. Here's its full lyrics:

I NEED YOU NOW / ALLIANCE

I wanted you, I thought you knew
Now I find you gone
But did I do wrong?
Please don't act this way
I want you back today
I need you now.

I'm on my own and so alone
I want to make amends
Why can't we be friends?
Hear me when I say
I love you anyway
We're not over yet, I can't forget
I want you back to stay.

Chorus:
I need you now and yet somehow
I will always feel the same
It's so (hard) to stop the pain
I need you now and yet somehow
I still dream of how you feel
And the touch of you is so real
I need you now.

Bridge:
Stay away forever, I'll love you anyway
You'll never know how much I care
Any day will last forever
Every night I'll call your name
We're dreaming on the things I love
The memories we'd share.
(Repeat Chorus)
(Repeat 1st 3 lines of Chorus)

I need you now, ooh....

The second song on the other hand would be DIARY OF A FOOL by ALAN GORRIE from his only solo album released in 1984 called SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. I said "solo album" as ALAN GORRIE used to be the lead singer, bassist and guitarist of the 70's funk/R&B group THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND whose biggest hit   was the No. 1 song CUT THE CAKE in June, 1975. Here's its lyrics:

DIARY OF A FOOL / ALAN GORRIE

Hello Monday, what can you say?
I bet you knew that she was goin' away
I spoke to Sunday, he wouldn't tell
The words I'd written had kept their secrets so well..

Refrain:
I shared each moment day by day
Is this all you have to say?

Chorus:
(As/While/So) I turn the pages one at a time
Everyday another tear seems to fall between the lines
How can such innocent words of love be so cruel?
(It's/In) the diary of a fool.

Goodbye April, June and July
Another season down in black and white
Maybe September a new love will call
Until then I might do better to write down nothing at all.

Refrain:
I'll keep these mem'ries close at hand
They might help me to understand.
(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:
Ooh, oh I don't forget
Maybe I'll forget it
In time, my heart will heal
The words will just disappear, hoo.
(Instrumental)

It's the diary of a fool.
(Repeat Chorus)

If you'd like mp3 copies of the said songs, don't hesitate to write again at bong_santos_jbl11@yahoo.com. Do not forget to mention the title of the songs you are requesting.

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines