Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)


"Let It Be Me" is a popular song originally published in French in 1955 as "Je t'appartiens" interpreted by Gilbert Bécaud. It became popular worldwide with an English version by the Everly Brothers and later with the duet by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler.

"Je t'appartiens"

"Je t'appartiens" was a French hit in 1955. The score was written and first recorded by Gilbert Bécaud. The lyrics were penned in French by Pierre Delanoë. In 1955 it was a hit for Bécaud and in 1956 was rerecorded by Les Compagnons de la chanson.

First English version by Jill Corey

The English language version used lyrics by Manny Curtis and was performed in 1957 by Jill Corey in the television series Climax!. Corey's version, with orchestration by Jimmy Carroll, was released as a single and was moderately successful.

The Everly Brothers version

The Everly Brothers helped to further popularize the song with their 1960 rendition of "Let It Be Me" which reached 7th position on the Billboard Hot 100. The harmony arrangement of this version was often emulated in subsequent remakes. This was the first Everly Brothers single to be recorded in New York, and not in Nashville. The musicians that backed up the brothers on the record included Howard Collins, Barry Galbraith and Mundell Lowe on guitar, Lloyd Trotman on bass, Jerry Allison on drums and Hank Rowland on piano.

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler version

In 1964, Betty Everett and Jerry Butler released their version of the song. Their version peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Cashbox Soul/R&B charts for 3 weeks.

Cover versions

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

The Sweet Inspirations

Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

Willie Nelson

– in 2015 the version of Angelo Seretti & George Aaron stayed 5 weeks on Italian Radio Chart