But You Know I Love You

"But You Know I Love You"
"But You Know I Love You"
Single by Dolly Parton
from the album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
B-side	"Poor Folks' Town"
Released	March 16, 1981
Recorded	1980
Genre	Country
Length	3:20
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Mike Settle
Producer(s)	Mike Post
Dolly Parton singles chronology

"But You Know I Love You"
"But You Know I Love You"
Single by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
from the album The First Edition '69
B-side	"Homemade Lies"
Released	1968
Recorded	1968
Genre	Country
Length	3:01
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Mike Settle
Producer(s)	Jimmy Bowen
Kenny Rogers and The First Edition singles chronology

"But You Know I Love You" is a song written by Mike Settle, which was a 1969 pop hit for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, a group that included Settle and Kenny Rogers. The song also became a major country hit by Bill Anderson in 1969. In 1981, a cover version of "But You Know I Love You" by singer Dolly Parton topped the country singles charts.

Kenny Rogers and The First Edition version

Background

In the song, "But You Know I Love You", the narrator voices regret over not being able to remain with his/her significant other, due to career demands and the need to travel for his/her job. At the time, Mike Settle was guitarist for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, with Kenny Rogers singing lead and Settle harmonizing. The fall 1968 release, with a brass-tinged country-folk sound to broaden the group's fan base, peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 just under a year after "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" peaked. During the group's rendition on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour that aired on 8 December 1968, the audience was unwittingly fooled to start clapping too soon, right after the false ending but way before the real ending.

Charts

Chart (1969)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[1]	19
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[2]	18
Canadian RPM Top Singles	11
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	9

Bill Anderson version

Bill Anderson's cover version of "But You Know I Love You" from his album My Life/But You Know I Love You (Decca DL 75142) rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1969.

Charts

Chart (1969)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[3]	2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	6

Dolly Parton version

Background

Country entertainer Dolly Parton (who, in 1983, would have the number 1 duet "Islands In The Stream" with Kenny Rogers) in 1980 included "But You Know I Love You", based on the occupation of on-the-road singer, on her album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. In March 1981, Parton released the song as the album's second single, following the success of "9 to 5," and it reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart on 20 June 1981, succeeding Rogers' accompanying Dottie West on "What Are We Doin' in Love" at the top slot.^[4] Parton's version also crossed over, bowing at number 82 on 4 April 1981 and peaking at number 41 on 16 May 1981 on the Hot 100 and No. 14 on the AC chart.

Charts

Weekly

Chart (1981)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[5]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[6]	41
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[7]	14
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	2

Year-end

Chart (1981)	Peak Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[8]	6

Other covers

1969: Ray Stevens for his album Have a Little Talk with Myself (Monument SLP 18134).
1969: Wynn Stewart for his album Yours Forever (Capitol ST 324).
1969: Teresa Bennett for her album Anita Kerr Presents Teresa (Dot DLP 25944).
1969: The Sweet Inspirations for their album Sweets for My Sweet (Atlantic SD 8225).
1969: Kim Weston and Johnny Nash for their album Johnny Nash & Kim Weston (Major Minor SMLP 54).
1969: Buck Owens for his album Tall Dark Stranger (Capitol ST 212).
1970: Barbara Lewis for her album The Many Grooves of Barbara Lewis (Enterprise ENS 1006).^[9]
1970: Evie Sands for her album Any Way That You Want Me (A&M SP 4239) (US Billboard #110, AC #30).^[10]
1970: Julie Rogers for her album Once More With Feeling (Ember NR 5050).
1970: Skeeter Davis for her album A Place In the Country (RCA Victor LSP-4310).
1972: Laura Lee for her album Love More Than Pride (Chess CH 50031).
1972: Maria Dallas for her album Town and Country (CBS SBP-234201).
1973: Henson Cargill for his album This Is Henson Cargill Country (Atlantic SD 7279).

References

^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Bill Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 262.
^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Billboard Hot Country Songs - Year-End Charts (1981)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
^ "Barbara Lewis – the Many Grooves of Barbara Lewis (1970, Vinyl)". Discogs.
^ Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004

External links

But You Know I Love You lyrics at Dolly Parton On-Line

[sc_Billboardhot100_Kenny_Rogers-1] "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Kenny_Rogers-2] "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Bill_Anderson-3] "Bill Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[4] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 262.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Dolly_Parton-5] "Dolly Parton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Dolly_Parton-6] "Dolly Parton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Dolly_Parton-7] "Dolly Parton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[8] "Billboard Hot Country Songs - Year-End Charts (1981)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

[9] "Barbara Lewis – the Many Grooves of Barbara Lewis (1970, Vinyl)". Discogs.

[10] Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004

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v t e Kenny Rogers
Studio albums	Love Lifted Me Kenny Rogers Daytime Friends Love or Something Like It The Gambler Kenny Gideon Share Your Love Love Will Turn You Around We've Got Tonight Eyes That See in the Dark What About Me? The Heart of the Matter They Don't Make Them Like They Used To I Prefer the Moonlight Something Inside So Strong Love Is Strange Back Home Again If Only My Heart Had a Voice Vote for Love Across My Heart She Rides Wild Horses There You Go Again Back to the Well Water & Bridges You Can't Make Old Friends Life Is Like a Song
Collaboration albums	Every Time Two Fools Collide (with Dottie West) Classics (with Dottie West) Timepiece (with David Foster)
Christmas albums	Christmas Once Upon a Christmas (with Dolly Parton) Christmas in America The Gift Christmas from the Heart Once Again It's Christmas
Compilations	Ten Years of Gold The Kenny Rogers Singles Album Greatest Hits (1980) 20 Greatest Hits Duets The Kenny Rogers Story Love Is What We Make It Short Stories Greatest Hits (1988) Daytime Friends – The Very Best of Kenny Rogers Live by Request 42 Ultimate Hits 21 Number Ones
Notable singles	"That Crazy Feeling" "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" "But You Know I Love You" "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" "Something's Burning" "Love Lifted Me" "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" "Lucille" "Daytime Friends" "Sweet Music Man" "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (with Dottie West) "Love or Something Like It" "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" (with Dottie West) "The Gambler" "All I Ever Need Is You" (with Dottie West) "She Believes in Me" "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" (with Dottie West) "You Decorated My Life" "Coward of the County" "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (with Kim Carnes) "Love the World Away" "Lady" "I Don't Need You" "Share Your Love with Me" "Blaze of Glory" "Through the Years" "Love Will Turn You Around" "A Love Song" "We've Got Tonight" (with Sheena Easton) "All My Life" "Scarlet Fever" "Islands in the Stream" (with Dolly Parton) "Eyes That See in the Dark" "This Woman" "Buried Treasure" "Together Again" (with Dottie West) "What About Me?" (with Kim Carnes and James Ingram) "Evening Star" "Crazy" "Morning Desire" "Goodbye Marie" "Tomb of the Unknown Love" "Twenty Years Ago" "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (with Ronnie Milsap) "I Prefer the Moonlight" "The Factory" "I Don't Call Him Daddy" "When You Put Your Heart in It" "Planet Texas" "The Vows Go Unbroken (Always True to You)" "Maybe" (with Holly Dunn) "Love Is Strange" (with Dolly Parton) "Crazy in Love" "If You Want to Find Love" "Ol' Red" "Mary, Did You Know?" (with Wynonna Judd) "The Greatest" "Buy Me a Rose" (with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean) "He Will, She Knows" "There You Go Again" "Homeland" "I Can't Unlove You"
Guest singles	"What Are We Doin' in Love" (with Dottie West) "Real Love" (with Dolly Parton) "If I Ever Fall in Love Again" (with Anne Murray)
Other songs	"Elvira" "You and I" (with the Bee Gees)
Related articles	Discography The First Edition Kenny Rogers Roasters The Real West

v t e Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
Kenny Rogers Mary Arnold Thelma Camacho Jimmy Hassell John Hobbs Mickey Jones Gene Lorenzo Mike Settle Kin Vassy Terry Williams
Studio albums	The First Edition (1967) Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town (1969) Something's Burning (1970) Tell It All Brother (1970) Transition (1971) The Ballad of Calico (1972) I'm Not Making Music for Money (1974)
Singles	"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" "But You Know I Love You" "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" "Something's Burning" "Today I Started Loving You Again"

v t e Bill Anderson singles
Albums Singles
1950s	"City Lights" "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" "Ninety-Nine" "Dead or Alive"
1960s	"The Tip of My Fingers" "Walk Out Backwards" "Po' Folks" "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands" "Mama Sang a Song" "Still" "8×10" "Five Little Fingers"/"Easy Come – Easy Go" "Me" "Three A.M." "Certain" "Bright Lights and Country Music" "I Love You Drops"/"Golden Guitar" "I Get the Fever" "Get While the Gettin's Good" "No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore" "For Loving You" (with Jan Howard) "Wild Week-End" "Happy State of Mind" "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)" "If It's All the Same to You" (with Jan Howard) "But You Know I Love You"
1970s	"Love Is a Sometimes Thing" "Someday We'll Be Together" (with Jan Howard) "Where Have All Our Heroes Gone" "Always Remember" "Quits" "Dis-Satisfied" (with Jan Howard) "All the Lonely Women in the World" "Don't She Look Good" "If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)" "The Corner of My Life" "World of Make Believe" "Can I Come Home to You" "Every Time I Turn the Radio On" "I Still Feel the Same About You" "Country D.J." "Thanks" "Sometimes" (with Mary Lou Turner) "That's What Made Me Love You" (with Mary Lou Turner) "Peanuts and Diamonds" "Liars One, Believers Zero" "Head to Toe" "Where Are You Going, Billy Boy" (with Mary Lou Turner) "Still the One" "I Can't Wait Any Longer" "Double S" "This Is a Love Song" "The Dream Never Dies"
1980s	"Make Mine Night Time" "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back"
1990s	"The Deck of Cards"