You Light Up My Life

"You Light Up My Life" is a ballad written by Joe Brooks and originally recorded by Kasey Cisyk for the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The song was performed in the film by its lead, Didi Conn, who lip-synched Cisyk's version. Pat Boone's daughter, Debby Boone, was recruited to record the single which became a massive success topping the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks and became easily the most successful single of the 1970's in the United States. The song was only surpassed at that time by Elvis Presley's double-sided "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" as the longest running No. 1 ever on the Hot 100. The single, which was certified platinum, also spent one week atop the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at No. 4 Country. Although written by Brooks as a love song, the devout Boone interpreted the song as inspirational and proclaimed that it was instead God who "lit up her life."

Cisyk's soundtrack recording was released as a single to bolster sales of the soundtrack after Boone included her version on her first solo album also entitled You Light Up My Life. (Although the soundtrack was certified gold peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 200, it never included Boone's version of the song.) Cisyk's single was credited to "Original Cast," not to Cisyk herself, and only reached No. 80 Pop. Brooks also released an instrumental version of the song from the soundtrack as a single, but his version failed to chart. Boone's success resulted in two Grammy nominations for Best Pop Female and Record of the Year and won her the 1977 Grammy for Best New Artist and the 1977 American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. The song earned Brooks Song of the Year honors at the 1977 Grammy [tied with Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen)], Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

B-side: Hasta Mañana
Released: 1977
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:35
Label: Curb
Writer(s): Joe Brooks
Producer: Joe Brooks
Certification: Platinum

So many nights I sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me his song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark but now
You've come along

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

Rollin' at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I'm turning for home?
Finally, a chance to say hey,
I love You
Never again to be all alone

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

It can't be wrong
When it feels so right
'Cause You
You light up my life