Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe” explores the painful illusion of unrequited love.
Some songs possess a timeless quality, their melodies and lyrics resonating long after they were first written. However, few songs can capture the raw emotion of love and loss as effectively as “It’s Only Make Believe”. Released in 1958, this iconic track by Conway Twitty wasn’t merely a song; it was a heart-wrenching ballad that left an indelible mark on the music world.
As a young boy growing up in the tumultuous 50s, I remember listening to the radio with my father. The airwaves were filled with a mix of rock and roll, country, and pop. But when “It’s Only Make Believe” came on, the room would fall silent. My father, a man of few words, would simply nod, a quiet acknowledgment of the song’s profound message.
It’s a story as old as time itself, and Twitty tells it with such clarity and sincerity that it’s impossible not to be moved. The song’s protagonist is trapped in a dream world, pretending that the woman he loves loves him back. He knows it’s all a charade—a “make believe”—but he clings to this fantasy because the truth is too painful to bear. The chorus, with its haunting repetition of “It’s only make believe that I love you,” is a stark reminder of his self-deception. It’s a powerful and relatable theme that resonates with anyone who has ever loved someone who didn’t love them back.
The song’s success was immediate and undeniable. It soared to the top of the charts, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It also performed exceptionally well on the country and R&B charts, a testament to its broad appeal. This chart-topping success was a significant achievement for Conway Twitty, a young artist who had only recently made his mark on the music scene. The song’s popularity cemented his status as a bona fide star and set the stage for a long and illustrious career.
The story behind the song is equally fascinating. Written by Twitty and his drummer, Jack Nance, the song was a last-minute addition to a recording session. Twitty initially had doubts about the track, but his producers saw its potential. They were right. The song’s raw emotion and heartfelt lyrics connected with audiences on a deep level. It became a a powerful anthem for the lovelorn, a beautiful and poignant exploration of unrequited love.
In later years, Twitty would re-record the song as a duet with Loretta Lynn. This version, released on their 1988 album ‘Making Believe,’ added a new layer of emotional depth. Lynn’s powerful vocals complemented Twitty’s perfectly, transforming the song from a solo ballad into a tragic duet. Their voices intertwined, telling a story of two people caught in a web of emotional entanglement. It was a stunning reinterpretation of a classic, a final nod to a song that had become a cornerstone of Twitty’s legacy.
For me, “It’s Only Make Believe” isn’t just a song; it’s a memory, a feeling, and a reminder of a simpler time. It’s the sound of a radio dial being turned in the middle of a warm summer night, the faint glow of a streetlight filtering through a window, and the quiet comfort of shared sadness. It’s a song that proves that the most beautiful melodies are often born from the deepest pain. It will forever be a timeless classic, a testament to the enduring power of music.