A Lover's Question

Album: The Best Of Clyde McPhatter (1958)
Charted: 6
Play Video
  • Does she love me, with all her heart
    Should I worry, when we're apart
    It's a lover's question, I'd like to know.

    Does she need me, as she pretends
    Is this a game, well then will I win
    It's a lover's question, I'd like to know

    I'd like to know when she's not with me
    If she's still true to me
    I'd like to know when we're kissing
    Does she feel just what I feel,
    And how am I to know it's really real.

    Oh, tell me where, the answer lies
    Is it in her kiss or in her eyes
    It's a lover's question I'd like to know.

    I'd like to know when she's not with me
    If she's still true to me
    I'd like to know when we're kissing
    Does she feel just what I feel,
    And how am I to know it's really real.

    Oh, tell me where, the answer lies
    Is it in her kiss or in her eyes
    It's a lover's question I'd like to know. Writer/s: BROOK BENTON, JIMMY WILLIAMS
    Publisher: Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Third Side Music Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1978 {April 2nd} Jacky Ward's covered version of "A Lover's Question" peaked at #3 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #3, the #2 record for that week was "It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' To Me" by the Kendalls and at #1 was "Someone Loves You Honey" by Charley Pride...
    "A Lovers's Question" was Jacky Ward's highest charted record, between 1972 and 1988 the Groveton, Texas native had twenty four records on the Hot Country Singles chart, five* made the Top 10...
    Besides the above "A Lover's Questions", his other four Top 10 records were "Fools Fall In Love" {#9 in 1977}, "Wisdom of A Fool" {#8 in 1979}, "Save Your Heart For Me" {#8 in 1980}, and "That's The Way A Cowboy Rocks and Rolls" {#7 in 1980}...
    Jacky Ward will celebrate his 78th birthday in seven months on November 18th, 2020...
    * He just missed having a sixth Top 10 record when his "Rhythm of The Rain" peaked at #11 in 1978...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on April 2nd, 1978:
    At #4. "Cheated On A Good Woman's Love" by Billy 'Crash' Craddock
    #5. "Ready For The Times To Get Better" by Crystal Gayle
    #6. "Every Time Two Fools Collide" by Kenny Rodgers and Dottie West
    #7. "Hearts On Fire" by Eddie bbitt
    #8. "I've Got A Winner In You" by Don Williams
    #9. "Sweet Sweet Smile" by the Carpenters
    #10. "We Believe In Happy Endings" by Johnny Rodriguez
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny"A Lover's Question" peaked at #6, and Mr. McPhatter had one other Top 10 record, "Lover Please"...
    And on March 7th, 1962 "Lover Please" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; and seven weeks later on April 5th, 1962 it peaked at #7 {for 1 week} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1956 and 1965 Mr. McPhatter, as a solo artist, had sixteen records make Billboard's R&B Singles chart; nine made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "Treasure of Love" {1956}, "Long Lonely Nights" {1957}, and "A Lover's Question" {1958}...
    He just missed having a fourth #1 record when "Seven Days" peaked at #2 in 1956...
    With the Drifters he had four Top 10 records on the R&B Singles chart; "Money Honey" {#1 in 1953}, "Such a Night" {#5 in 1954}, “Honey Love” {#1 in 1954} and a covered version of "White Christmas" {#2 in 1954}...
    And in a duet with Ruth Brown he reached #8 with "Love Has Joined Us Together" in 1955.
  • Val Edwards from Asheville Nc@ TJ Williams; TJ, your grandfather and I were best of friends for over 2 decades, I'm sorry I have not checked this post
    for a very long time to get back to you. I am writing a screenplay about your grandfather and would love to share with you everything I knew about him, his music, his friends etc. I have a great photo and a couple of Demos with Jimmy singing our songs on.
    Val Edwards
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 26th 1958, Clyde McPhatter performed "A Lover's Question" at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in N.Y.C.
    At the time the song was at #9 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and twenty-four days later on January 19th, 1959 it peaked at #6 {for 1 week} and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {24 weeks}...
    And on December 2nd, 1958 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Three covered versions have made the Top 100 chart; Ernestine Anderson's version peaked at #98 in 1961, Otis Redding reached #48 in 1969, and in 1975 Loggins & Messina took it to #89.
  • Tj Williams from Newport News, Va@ Val Edwards, Detroit, MI - Did you really write with Jimmy Williams? If so, would you mind telling me more about him please? He was my grandfather, but I was never able to meet him. So, I just know of some of the songs he wrote, which inspired my writing.
  • Peter from Chicago, IlClyde Mc Phatter started out in 1951, singing for Billy Ward and The Dominoes, for King/Federal Records. Then, in 1953, McPhatter formed the first generation of Drifters and they recorded for Atlantic Records, beginning in 1953, their first hit was "Honey Love". In 1954, Mc Phatter left the group to serve in the army, an when he was discharged he went solo, recording the 1956 song, "Treasure of Love". Then, in 1958, he recorded "A Lover's Question". Mc Phatter stayed with Atlantic until 1960,then he switched to Mercury Records, hitting with "Lover Please". After this, he only had minor hits, or covers of older hits. Clyde McPhatter died at a young age in 1972.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis is the first song I recorded on my 'Voice of Music' 7 inch reel to reel tape recorder that I had purchased with the money I saved from my paper route in 1958...
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaI'd like to know who did the arrangement on this record.
    I love the choral voicings in the backround...was it RayEllis or Stan Applebaum?...it sounds like Stan's choral concept..
    Steveo
  • Val Edwards from Detroit, MiMcPhatter did not write this song with Brook Benton as claimed by Brad Wind of Miami (Brad,sorry you are full of hot wind,do your homework.} The song was written with Brook with Jimmy Williams,Jimmy also wrote Nancy Wilson's smash Grammy award hit "How Glad I Am" Trust me Brad, I wrote with Jimmy and worked with Brook in the 60's and 70's
  • Dae from Sumter, ScClyde McPhatter's son, Ron, sings with Bill Pinkney and The Original Drifters. Dr. Pinkney is the surviving member of the original Drifters.
  • Brandon from Seattle, WaSounds a lot like Jackie Wilson singing "Lonely Teardrops."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?