Neil Diamond – Love On The Rocks (Official Video) – 1980s Music (1980)

The Song

“Love on the Rocks” is a song written by Neil Diamond and Gilbert Bécaud that appeared in the 1980 movie The Jazz Singer and was performed by Diamond on the soundtrack album to the film. It was also released as a single and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in January 1981. The song also made it to #3 on Billboard’s US Adult Contemporary chart.^[2][3] Billboard rated it as the #26 pop single overall for 1981.^[4] It performed less well in the UK, reaching only #17.^[5] It was covered by Millie Jackson on her 1981 album Just a Lil’ Bit Country, and by Gladys Knight on the album Great Solo Performances by Guest Artists from the Tom Jones Show, Vol. 1.^[6] Bécaud recorded the song in French as L’Amour est mort on his 1981 eponymous album.^[7]

Billboard Magazine critic Vicki Pipkin called “Love on the Rocks” a “powerful ballad in true Diamond style.”^[8] Billboard also called the song “one of Diamond’s more powerful readings.”^[9] Neil Diamond biographer Laura Jackson describes the lyrics as taking “a sometimes cynical look at a man who is trapped in a relationship and is disillusioned with life.”^[3] Allmusic critic Johnny Loftus calls it a “lite FM favorite” and “classic, raw-throated Neil.”^[10] Author T. Mike Childs rated it as a “terrific” ballad.^[11] Pittsburgh Press music editor Carl Apone claimed that Diamond was at his best in The Jazz Singer in the songs “Hello Again” and “Love on the Rocks.”^[12]

In the movie, Paul Nicholas does a punk/new wave version of “Love on the Rocks.”

Lyrics from “Love On The Rocks”

Love on the rocks
Ain’t no surprise
Just pour me a drink
And I’ll tell you some lies
Got nothing to lose
So you just sing the blues
All the time
Gave you my heart
Gave you my soul
You left me alone here
With nothing to hold
Yesterday’s gone
Now all I want
Is a smile
First they say they want you
Hear how they really need you
Suddenly you find you’re out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You’ve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do
When the feeling is gone
Maybe blue skies above
But it’s cool
When your love’s on the rocks
First they say they want you
Hear how they really need you
Suddenly you find you’re out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You’ve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
Love on the rocks
Ain’t no big surprise
Just pour me a drink
And I’ll tell you more lies
Yesterday’s gone
And now all I want is a smile
You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do
When the feeling is gone
May be blue skies above
But it’s cool when your love’s on the rocks
First they say they want you
How they really need you
Suddenly you find you’re out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You’ve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
Love on the rocks
Ain’t no big surprise
Just pour me a drink
And I’ll tell you my lies
Yesterday is gone
And now all I want is a smile