“Hello It’s Me” is a Billboard #5 hit song composed by Todd Rundgren that has been recorded numerous times, and would become Rundgren’s best-known song. “Hello, It’s Me” was the first original song by Todd Rundgren. It was first recorded in 1968 by Rundgren’s band Nazz and was included on their self-titled debut album. Although released as the B-side of the group’s debut single “Open My Eyes” it was picked up in preference to the A-side by Boston radio station WMEX, where it rose to #1, and was subsequently picked up by other stations, although it didn’t fare well nationally, peaking at #66 on the U.S. charts. Wikipedia®.
Todd Rundgren – Hello It’s Me (1972)
Todd Rundgren wrote this song, which takes us through a phone call where the singer breaks up with a girl. It’s a remarkably realistic account, devoid of sweeping metaphors typically found in breakup songs. We hear the one side of the phone call, which starts with the familiar greeting, indicating they’ve been together a while. Then they have “the talk,” where he hashes out why they can’t be together and lets her know that she should have her freedom. All he can ask in the end is that she think of him every now and then. Remarkably, it was the first song Rundgren ever wrote. In his teens, Todd was an avid listener to music but it was only when he put The Nazz together at the age of 19 that the young musician realized that now he was fronting a band, and he’d better start penning some material. He attributes the sophistication and success of this song to the vast amount of listening he’d done by the time he wrote it. Songfacts®:
Todd Rundgren – Hello It’s Me Lyrics:
Hello it’s me,
I’ve thought about us for a long, long time,
Maybe I think too much but something’s wrong,
There’s something here that doesn’t last too long,
Maybe I shouldn’t think of you as mine.
Seeing you, or seeing anything as much as I do you,
I take for granted that you’re always there,
I take for granted that you just don’t care,
Sometimes I can’t help seeing all the way through.
It’s important to me.
That you know you are free,
‘Cause I never want to make you change for me.
Think of me,
You know that I’d be with you if I could.
I’ll come around to see you once in a while.
or if I ever need a reason to smile.
And spend the night if you think I should.
It’s important to me.
That you know you are free,
‘Cause I never want to make you change for me.
Think of me,
You know that I’d be with you if I could.
I’ll come around to see you once in a while.
or if I ever need a reason to smile.
And spend the night if you think I should.
Sometimes I thought it wasn’t so bad.
Sometimes I thought it wasn’t so bad.
Sometimes I thought it wasn’t so bad.
Writer: Rundgren, Todd Harry
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
