Expert: Bong Santos - 3/7/2007

Question
I`ve been looking for an early 80s song with the phrase
"love isn`t love `til you give it away" in it, a love song
sang by a lady with almost the same voice as Anne Murray.
I can clearly remember that I heard it 1983.  Thanks a lot.

Answer
Dear Ray,

You exactly hit the year right, 1983. That was the year country singer superstar REBA McENTIRE released his last album for MERCURY RECORDS before switching to MCA RECORDS. 1983's BEHIND THE SCENE, from where the song LOVE ISN'T LOVE ('TIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY)was culled from. The Oklahoma native has so far released 29 albums her entire 29-year career. Here's its lyrics:

LOVE ISN'T LOVE ('TIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY) / REBA McENTIRE

Smile's not a smile until it wrinkles your face
Bell's not a bell without ringing
A home's not a home when there's nobody there
A song's not a song without singing

Chorus:
Love isn't love till you give it away
Love isn't love till it's free
The love in your heart
Wasn't put there to stay
Oh love isn't love till you give it away

You might think love is a treasure to keep
Feeling to cherish and hold
But love is a treasure for people to share
You keep it by letting it go
(Repeat Chorus)

Cause love can't survive
When it's hidden inside
And love was meant to be shared
(Repeat Chorus)

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines