About the song
Few songs manage to bridge generations the way “I Only Want to Be with You” does—especially when it’s filtered through the infectious energy of the Bay City Rollers. Originally a hit for Dusty Springfield in 1963, the Rollers’ 1976 rendition breathed fresh life into the classic, wrapping it in tartan charm and glam-pop exuberance that defined an entire era of teenage fervor.
The Bay City Rollers, often heralded as the UK’s answer to The Beatles for the teen crowd of the 1970s, had a knack for turning feel-good pop into mass hysteria. Their cover of “I Only Want to Be with You” is no exception. With its upbeat tempo, polished harmonies, and sparkling arrangement, the band transformed a soulful love song into a jubilant anthem of young infatuation. It’s no surprise that the track quickly became a chart success, reaching fans far beyond their Scottish roots.
What makes this version so special is how it captures the euphoria of being utterly smitten. There’s an innocence to it, a kind of wide-eyed sincerity in lines like “I don’t know what it is that makes me love you so”. But paired with the Rollers’ bouncing rhythm section and the punch of electric guitars, the song sheds its melancholy and becomes something wholly youthful and alive.
At a time when pop was shifting gears—moving toward disco, punk, and more experimental rock—the Bay City Rollers clung tight to the irresistible simplicity of a good melody and heartfelt emotion. Their take on “I Only Want to Be with You” reminds us why this formula never goes out of style.
Whether you’re revisiting it as a fan of the Rollers or discovering the cover for the first time, this song is a warm, glittery time capsule—a reminder of when love songs were loud, proud, and worn on your sleeve.
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Lyrics
I don’t know what it is that makes me love you soI only know I never wanna let you go‘Cause you’ve started something, can’t you seeThat ever since we met you’ve had a hold on me?It happens to be trueI only wanna be with youIt doesn’t matter where you go or what you doI wanna spend each moment of the day with youLook what has happened with just one kissI never knew that I could be in love like thisIt’s crazy but it’s trueI only wanna be with youYou stopped, you smiled at meAnd asked me if I cared to danceI fell into your open armsI didn’t stand a chanceNow listen, honey I just wanna be beside you everywhereAs long as we’re together, honey, I don’t care‘Cause you’ve started something, can’t you seeThat ever since we met you’ve had a hold on me?No matter what you doI only wanna be with youYou stopped, you smiled at meAnd asked me if I cared to danceI fell into your open armsI didn’t stand a chanceNow listen, honey, I just wanna be beside you everywhereAs long as we’re together, honey, I don’t care‘Cause you’ve started something, can’t you seeThat ever since we’ve met you’ve had a hold on me?No matter what you doI only wanna be with youNo matter, no matter what you doI only wanna be with you (whoa)No matter, no matter what you doI only wanna be with you