Without Your Love

Lyrics

Without your love
I’m like a song without words
Just like a nest without birds
Without your love
Fine sun above
Will never shine at my door
My life holds nothing in store
Without your love
I rode the crest of a wave
With you beside me
Now who’s to guide me
Because I’m lost at sea
Without your love
I’m like a plane without wings
A violin with no strings
Without your love

I’ve rode the crest of a wave
With you beside me
Now who’s to guide me
Because I’m lost at sea
Without your love
I’m like a plane without wings
A violin with no strings
Without your love

Song Notes

Billie Holiday And Her Orchestra recorded “Without Your Love” in New York City on June 15, 1937 along with three other songs. In fact, most recording sessions of the 1930’s and 40’s were long enough to cut four “sides.” This allowed the label to release two double-sided 78rpm discs, and also seems to have been most affordable in terms of musician’s union pay scale rules.

“Without Your Love” would soon be released on 78rpm discs, across many labels, as was customary for the day, presumably to appeal to different record buying markets, including Vocalion, Columbia and CBS/Sony.

The session is notable for its inclusion of some of most of Billie’s closest collaborators and would-be/former lovers, including Buck Clayton (trumpet) Edmond Hall (clarinet) Lester Young (tenor saxophone) James Sherman (piano) Freddie Green (guitar) Walter Page (bass) Jo Jones (drums) Billie Holiday (vocals).