About The Song
In 1980, Don Williams’ “I Believe In You” was released as the first single and title track from his tenth album – and it became his biggest record ever.
It actually reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Song chart, staying at No. 1 for two weeks while spending a total of twelve remarkable weeks. It even reached a decent No. 24 on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart, Williams’ only appearance on the said chart.
But not only that, “I Believe In You” is actually one of Don Williams songs that was a massive hit in other regions, especially in Canada and New Zealand.
Written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin, “I Believe In You” tells the tale of a man who doesn’t believe in many things, except for one – the power of love.
Cook, the first British songwriter to be recognized by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, gave a glimpse of how the song came into fruition.
He revealed that when he finished the song’s first draft, he held onto it for about a year. This is because he realized that most of the “lyrical images were dumb,” especially that it took a piece of thought from social, political, and economic issues.
Cook then enlisted the help of songwriter Sam Hogin to rewrite the song and turn it into a simple, personal statement.
Few days after Cook completed the demo, everything seemed to fall into place when Williams’ producer, Garth Fundis, asked Cook if he had something fitting for the singer’s next album. Cook gladly suggested “I Believe In You,” which impressed Don Williams so much he did not change anything from Cook’s demo. In fact, they recruited Cook’s demo guitarist to make sure the guitar lick would stay the same.
Video
Lyrics
I don’t believe in superstars
Organic food and foreign cars
I don’t believe the price of gold
The certainty of growing old
That right is right and left is wrong
That north and south can’t get along
That east is east and west is west
And being first is always best
But I believe in love
I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad
And I believe in you
Well I don’t believe that heaven waits
For only those who congregate
I like to think of God as love
He’s down below, he’s up above
He’s watching people everywhere
He knows who does and doesn’t care
And I’m an ordinary man
Sometimes I wonder who I am
But I believe in love
I believe in music
I believe in magic
And I believe in you
I know with all my certainty
What’s going on with you and me
Is a good thing
It’s true, I believe in you
I don’t believe virginity
Is as common as it used to be
In working days and sleeping nights
That black is black and white is white
That Superman and Robin Hood
Are still alive in Hollywood
That gasoline’s in short supply
The rising cost of getting by
But I believe in love
I believe in old folks
I believe in children
I believe in you
I believe in love
I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad
And I believe in you