About The Song
“I Don’t Want to Talk About It” attained the top spot on the UK singles chart at the tender age of six, yet it carried the essence of a bygone era — precisely why it claimed the number one position. Originally penned by Danny Whitten, the track found its place as the concluding piece on Crazy Horse’s debut album in 1971. However, it was Rod Stewart who propelled it to chart-topping success.
Throughout the early 1970s, across his works for Mercury Records, Stewart had been a notable interpreter of others’ songs, blending soul, folk, and rock’n’roll into a distinctly British sound. In 1975, he shifted to Warner and ventured to the US to produce his Atlantic Crossing album. While some view this as the commencement of his artistic decline, the initial Warner album showcased his enduring talent.
“I Don’t Want to Talk About It” resonated perfectly with Stewart. Crazy Horse’s original, typical of a band renowned for backing Neil Young, exuded a sense of being drawn from the depths of American music: mournful, with the haunting sound of slide guitar. The lyrics danced on the edge of parody — “If I stand all alone, will the shadow hide the color of my heart / Blue for the tears, black for the night’s fears” — yet remained authentic due to Whitten’s genuine agony.
Crazy Horse’s rendition could seamlessly fit into Stewart’s 1971 album, Every Picture Tells a Story. However, by Atlantic Crossing, Stewart was refining his sound, and the album, performed by top American session musicians, boasted a richer texture than his earlier records. Stewart’s interpretation of “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” was nuanced and intricate, albeit becoming a tad more sentimental once the strings joined in after a couple of minutes. Nevertheless, his raspy, heartbroken voice remained a marvel.
Originally an album track, Stewart and his label observed its growing popularity as a favorite among crowds, providing an avenue for thousands of voices to connect with melancholy. Consequently, in 1977, it was released as a single (paired with “The First Cut Is the Deepest”), despite Stewart having released another album, A Night on the Town, in the interim. While destined for success given Stewart’s commercial peak, its ascent to number one might not have occurred without the unexpected influence of punk rock.
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Lyrics
I can tell by your eyes that you’ve probably been cryin’ forever,
And the stars in the sky don’t mean nothin’ to you, they’re a mirror.I don’t wanna talk about it, how you broke my heart.
But if I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, won’t you listen to my heart, whoa, my heart?If I stand all alone, will the shadow hide the colours of my heart;
Blue for the tears, black for the night’s fears.
The stars in the sky don’t mean nothin’ to you, they’re a mirror.I don’t wanna talk about it, how you broke my heart.
But if I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, won’t you listen to my heart, whoa, my heart?
My heart, whoa, my heart, this old heart?I don’t wanna talk about it, how you broke my heart.
But if I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, won’t you listen to my heart, whoa, my heart?
My heart, whoa, my heart.