The Warm Light of Late-Career Love: Roy Orbison‘s Born to Be Loved by YouIn the vast, resonant echo chamber of rock and roll history, few voices carry the weight of tragedy and soaring passion quite like that of Roy Orbison. His iconic sound, often described as an operatic cry, became the soundtrack to a generation’s deepest heartaches. Yet, amidst the dramas of loss that marked his most famous Monument-era ballads, a later track like “Born to Be Loved by You” offers a rare moment of pure, unadulterated joy and the simple, profound gratitude of finding love again.
Released as a single in the UK in January 1968 on the London label (and appearing on later compilations in the US, like the 1989 album The Singles Collection (1965-1973)), “Born to Be Loved by You” was an offering during a transitional period for the Big O. Information about a major chart position in the U.S. or U.K. at the time of its 1968 single release is elusive, suggesting it wasn’t one of his major commercial hits. However, its value lies not in chart numbers but in the emotional context of its release. This song, co-written by Orbison and his frequent collaborator Bill Dees, is a declaration of rebirth through love. Its lyrics—”Born again, because of you I’ve just been born again / At last I feel that I’m alive, and more / This is the moment I’ve waited for”—paint a picture of a soul reawakened.
The story behind this song, and its placement in Orbison’s life, is steeped in a nostalgia that’s both sweet and terribly poignant. 1968 was a devastating year for the man behind the shades, coming just two years after the tragic death of his first wife, Claudette, in 1966. While “Born to Be Loved by You” speaks of a life renewed, the song was released mere months before his two eldest sons, Roy Jr. and Anthony, were killed in a house fire while he was on tour in England. This context adds a heartbreaking layer of fragile hope to the track—a brief, shining affirmation of life’s potential, tragically overshadowed by another massive blow. It captures a moment of emotional peace that was fleetingly available to him.
The meaning of the song is beautifully straightforward: it is a hymn to an essential, almost predestined connection. The speaker feels that every aspect of his existence—from walking and talking to the very core of his being—was intended for this one person. It’s a sentiment of completeness, where the lover isn’t just part of life, but the reason for it. For older listeners, this song speaks to the deep-seated human need for partnership—a recognition that after the trials and solitude of life, finding someone who makes you feel “Born to be loved” is the greatest miracle. It’s a warm, embracing melody, a contrast to his more famous, dramatic “crying” songs, offering solace and a gentle, mid-tempo groove. It allows us a glimpse of Roy Orbison‘s heart not as the lone, suffering wanderer, but as a man capable of receiving and expressing profound, uncomplicated joy. It’s a sweet, hopeful whisper in a career full of thunderous lament.