I Swear


"I Swear" is a song written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers that became a hit for American country music artist John Michael Montgomery in 1993 and for American R&B group All-4-One in 1994.
Montgomery's version, released in November 1993 as the lead single from Montgomery's album Kickin' It Up and accompanied by a Marc Ball-directed music video, spent four weeks at number-one on the U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, later crossing over to pop radio and reaching number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. All-4-One's cover later became a number one hit in numerous countries.

Content

The song is a ballad in which the narrator promises his significant other that he will always love her.

Track listings

; CD maxi—United States
  1. "I Swear" – 4:23
  2. "Line on Love" – 2:37
  3. "Dream on Texas Ladies" – 3:08
  4. "Friday at Five" – 2:41

    Charts

"I Swear" officially debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of December 18, 1993.
Chart Peak
position

Year-end charts

All-4-One version

Several months after Montgomery had released his original version, All-4-One recorded their own version with record producer David Foster.
All-4-One's version hit number one in numerous countries, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., where it remained for eleven consecutive weeks. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for seven consecutive weeks, being held off number one by Wet Wet Wet's "Love Is All Around", which went on to spend 15 weeks at number one. This version spent a total of 18 weeks in the UK charts.
The All-4-One version of the song is slightly different to the original, in that the line "And when there's silver in your hair" from the second verse was replaced by "And when just the two of us are there." This version ranks number 88 on Billboard's All-Time Top 100 Songs list.
The song is a staple throughout the film Just Friends.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It portrays the members of All-4-One hanging out on a rooftop singing interspersed with scenes with a young woman walking on the sidewalk below. They go down to walk and talk with her as they implore her not to leave. Ultimately, she says goodbye to each member before boarding a departing bus.

Track listings

; CD single
  1. "I Swear" – 3:43
  2. "I Swear" – 4:19
; CD maxi
  1. "I Swear" – 3:43
  2. "I Swear" – 4:18
  3. "I Swear" – 4:18
  4. "I Swear" – 4:18
; 7" single
  1. "I Swear" – 3:43
  2. "I Swear" – 4:19

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

All-time charts

Certifications

Other versions

All-4-One and John Michael Montgomery recorded an updated duet version of "I Swear" for the deluxe edition of All-4-One's 2015 album Twenty+. A music video for this duet version was released on May 9, 2016.
Brazilian duo Leandro e Leonardo recorded a Portuguese version entitled "Eu Juro", it was recorded in 1995.
Costa Rican group Centinelas Vocal Band has performed a Latin American version entitled "Juraré". It was also covered in 1997 by Sandy Lam, Chyi Yu, Prudence Liew and Teresa Carpio, and as "Ya sé" by Mexican country band Caballo Dorado in 1998.

''POPSTARS'' Germany 2010 finalists version

The final eleven contestants from, ninth season of TV talent show POPSTARS in Germany, they released a cover version of the song with Gary Baker on November 19, 2010. The finalists premiered the song live on the November 18th edition of the programme; the single was available for digital download on November 16, 2010 and a physical release followed the day after the live performance of the song. The song was recorded at Noiseblock Studios in Florence, Alabama.

Track listings

; CD single
  1. "I Swear" – 04:03
  2. "Empire of Love" – 03:28

    Charts