About the song
Few artists have the ability to infuse raw emotion into a song quite like Tina Turner, and her 1996 rendition of “Missing You” is a perfect example of this gift. Originally written and recorded by John Waite in 1984, the song was a hit in its own right, but when Turner put her unmistakable stamp on it for her album Wildest Dreams, she transformed it into something even more powerful—a deeply soulful and emotionally charged ballad about longing, love, and the lingering presence of someone who’s gone.
Turner’s version strips away the more polished, pop-rock feel of Waite’s original and replaces it with a smoother, more mature, and soulful arrangement. Her voice, always filled with grit, passion, and vulnerability, gives the lyrics a deeper sense of pain and nostalgia. Every note she sings carries the weight of experience and heartache, making the song feel even more personal. Unlike some of her more explosive anthems like “The Best” or “Proud Mary”, “Missing You” is restrained yet just as powerful—showing her ability to convey deep emotion with subtlety and grace.
Lyrically, the song speaks to the universal experience of missing someone even when you try to move on. The lines “Every time I think of you, I always catch my breath” set the tone for a song filled with regret and unshakable memories. There’s an underlying sense of strength in her delivery, as if she’s refusing to let the pain overtake her, yet she’s still unable to shake off the longing completely.
While “Missing You” may not have reached the same iconic status as some of her biggest hits, it remains one of Tina Turner’s most underrated performances, showcasing her ability to turn any song into a deeply personal statement. It’s a testament to her enduring artistry—one that made her not just a rock icon, but a true master of emotional storytelling through music.
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Lyrics
Every time I think of youI always catch my breathAnd I’m still standing here, and you’re miles awayAnd I’m wondering why you leftAnd there’s a storm that’s ragingThrough my frozen heart tonightI hear your name in certain circlesAnd it always makes me smileI spend my time thinking about youAnd it’s almost driving me wildAnd there’s a heart that’s breakingDown this long distance line tonightI ain’t missing you at all (missing you)Since you’ve been gone away (missing you)I ain’t missing you (missing you)No matter what I might say (missing you, missing you)There’s a message in the wireAnd I’m sending you the signal tonightYou don’t know how desperate I’ve becomeAnd it looks like I’m losing this fightIn your world I have no meaningThough I’m tryin’ hard to understandAnd it’s my heart that’s breakingDown this long distance line tonightI ain’t missing you at all (missing you)Since you’ve been gone away (missing you)I ain’t missing you (missing you)No matter what my friends say (missing you)And there’s a message that I’m sending outVia telegraph to your soulAnd if I can’t bridge this distanceStop this heartbreak overloadI ain’t missing you at all, oh (missing you)Since you’ve been gone away (missing you)I ain’t missing you (missing you)No matter what my friends say (missing you)I ain’t missing you (missing you)I ain’t missing you (missing you)I can’t lie to myself (missing you)And there’s a storm that’s ragingThrough my frozen heart tonightI ain’t missing you at allI ain’t missing youMissing you (missing you)I ain’t missing you, no, noI ain’t missing youI ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing youI ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing youI ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing youEvery time I think of youI always catch my breath