About the song
Few songs carry the quiet vulnerability and tender sentiment of David Cassidy’s rendition of “Cherish.” Released in 1972 during the height of Cassidy’s solo success following his rise with The Partridge Family, this track stands as a sincere declaration of love—earnest, unguarded, and profoundly human. Originally written and performed by The Association in 1966, the song had already found a place in the hearts of many. But David Cassidy’s interpretation brought something new: a youthful honesty, paired with the rich emotional weight of someone who, despite being a teen idol, longed to be taken seriously as a vocalist and artist.
From the first soft notes, “Cherish” unfolds like a whispered confession. Cassidy’s voice, clear yet vulnerable, drifts through the melody with both restraint and emotional immediacy. The lyrics—“Cherish is the word I use to describe / All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside”—are unembellished, yet deeply affecting. It’s not a song filled with drama or grandiosity. Instead, it thrives in simplicity, expressing that most universal of feelings: the aching need to love and be loved in return.
What makes Cassidy’s version especially compelling is the tension between his public image and the song’s intimate tone. At the time, he was adored by millions of fans, but “Cherish” offered a glimpse beneath the spotlight—a young man quietly revealing his heart. The orchestral arrangement enhances this intimacy without overwhelming it, letting the vocal remain front and center.
Listening today, “Cherish” feels timeless. It doesn’t rely on musical trends or production gimmicks. Its strength lies in its sincerity. For those who remember the early ’70s, or who have ever found themselves wrapped up in longing, this track offers more than nostalgia—it’s a reminder of the quiet beauty of earnest love. In David Cassidy’s “Cherish,” we hear not just a pop ballad, but a heartfelt moment suspended in time.
Video
Lyrics
Cherish is the word I use to describeAll the feeling that I have hiding here for you insideYou don’t know how many timesI wished that I had told youYou don’t know how many timesI wished that I could hold youYou don’t know how many timesI’ve wished that I could mold youInto someone who couldCherish me as much as I cherish youPerish is the word that more than appliesTo the hope in my heart each time I realizeThat I am not going to be the oneTo share your dreamsThat I am not going to be the oneTo share your schemesThat I am not going to be the oneTo share what seems to be the lifeThat you could cherish me as much as I do yours.Oh I’m beginning to thinkThat man has never foundThe words that could make you want meThat have the right amount of lettersJust the right soundThat could make you hearMake you seeThat you’re driving me out of my mindOh I could say I need youBut then you’d realize that I want youJust like a thousand other guysWho say they’d love youWith all the rest of their livesWhen all they wanted was toTouch your face, your handAnd gaze into your eyesCherish is the word I use to describeAll the feeling that I have hiding here for you insideYou don’t know how many times I wished that I had told youYou don’t know how many times I wished that I could hold youYou don’t know how many times I wished that I could mold youInto someone that could cherish me as much as I cherish youAnd I doCherish you