1970s Love Songs Saying I Honestly Love You

Discover 70s love songs by year with 2 songs from each year. The 70s were about love, peace, and war. Those feelings were expressed through popular music.

However, I want to showcase the love songs of the 1970s that reflect love in a relationship only. I feature songs in many different styles including rock, R&B, and pop music.

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of 1970s love songs to play at weddings. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples.

1970s Love Songs List

Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel

Released in February 1970, Album: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Won 5 Grammys: Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Best Contemporary Song, Best Engineered Record, and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists. The album also won Album Of The Year.

The song is about comforting someone who is having a difficult time and letting them know that this too shall pass.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind

I’ll Be There – Jackson 5

September 1970, Third Album

A song that is popular for a parent and child to dance at a wedding because it signifies that they will be there for each other for support.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
I’ll be your strength
I’ll keep holdin’ on (holdin’ on)
Yes I will, yes I will

You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor

Released in June 1971, Album: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

Won Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Male.

A song about being there for a friend. It is commonly played for formal dances at receptions when the dancers do not have a lovey-dovey relationship.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, oh yeah baby, to see you again

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Released in December 1971, Album: Let’s Stay Together

Won Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Male.

A very popular wedding anniversary song particularly for a dance at a reception for the longest-married couple because the song talks about staying together forever.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Ooh, loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue

If – Bread

Released in January 1971, Album: Manna

A romantic slow song about having internal love and devoting your life to them.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

If a man could be two places at one time
I’d be with you
Tomorrow and today
Beside you all the way

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

Released in March 1972, Album: First Take

Won Record of The Year and Song of the Year.

A song about having love at first sight and wanting to love them for the rest of your life.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave

Lean On Me – Bill Withers

Released in April 1972, Album: Still Bill

A song about assuring someone you care about that you will be there to help them through life’s challenges.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder

Released in March 1973, Album: Talking Book

Won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male.

A song dedication from a parent to their child that they are your whole world and that the child makes the parent’s life better.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You are the sunshine of my life
That’s why I’ll always stay around
You are the apple of my eye
Forever you’ll stay in my heart

Just You ‘N’ Me – Chicago

Released in September 1973, Album: Chicago VI

A song about finding the person of your dreams to spend the rest of your life with and sharing experiences together.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You are my love in my life
And you are my inspiration
Just you and me

I Honestly Love You – Olivia Newton-John

Released in September 1974, Album: If You Love Me, Let Me Know

Won Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female.

A ballad acknowledging to your lover that you love them.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

And you should realize
That it’s coming from my heart and not my head
I love you
I honestly love you

You’re the First, the Last, My Everything – Barry White

Released in December 1974, Album: Can’t Get Enough

An upbeat love song to sing to your lover to let them know they are the last person you will ever love and that they are your whole world.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I see so many ways that I
Can love you ’til the day I die
You’re my reality, yet I’m lost in a dream
You’re the first, the last, my everything

Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tenille

Released in April 1975, Album: Love Will Keep Us Together

Won Song of the Year.

A fun duet love song about how your love for each other will conquer all challenges.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I will, I will, I will
I will be there to share forever
Love will keep us together

Fallin’ In Love – Joe Frank & Reynolds Hamilton

Released in June 1975, Album: Fallin’ in Love

The song tells the story of a man who falls in love over and over with his girl every single day.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You and me for eternity
In love will always be
Young and free and that should be
The way it’s gotta be

I’d Really Love to See You Tonight – England Dan and John Ford Coley

Released in June 1976, Album: Nights Are Forever

A song about two lovers in a distant relationship or separated for a bit and desire to be together.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

But there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around
And I’d really love to see you tonight

Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen) – Barbra Streisand

Released in December 1976, Album: A Star Is Born Soundtrack

Won Song of the Year in 1977.

The song describes two people in love who love each other so much that each day is like a renewed love for each other.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I have found with you
Like a rose under the April snow
I was always certain love would grow
Love ageless and evergreen

When I Need You – Leo Sayer

Released in February 1977, Album: Endless Flight

A song about a musician out on the road away from his lover and dreams of the day when they can be together again IRL.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

When I need you
I just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so want to give you, babe

Sometimes When We Touch – Dan Hill

Released in December 1977, Album: Longer Fuse

A very romantic slow song about wanting a night of romance and never wanting it to end.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I want to hold you till I die
Till we both break down and cry
I want to hold you till the fear in me subsides

Always and Forever – Heatwave

Released in January 1978, Album: Too Hot to Handle

One of the greatest wedding songs of all time. The song is about telling your lover that you have an undying love for them.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Take time to tell me you really care
And we’ll share tomorrow together
I’ll always love you, forever, forever

Three Times a Lady – The Commodores

Released in June 1978, Album: Natural High

A romantic ballad about a guy who thinks his lady is greater than all of the ladies in the world and loves her.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Yes, your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you!

Stumblin’ In – Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman

Released in January 1979, Album: If You Knew Suzi.

An uptempo duet song telling the one you love that you will do anything for you to be together.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I’ve fallen for you, whatever you do
‘Cause, baby, you’ve shown me so many things that I never knew
Whatever it takes, baby, I’ll do it for you

I’ll Never Love This Way Again – Dionne Warwick

Released in June 1979, Album: Dionne

Won Best Vocal Performance by a Female.

A very romantic admission that you love someone so much that you will not love another this much as you do right now.

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I know I’ll never love this way again
So I keep holdin’ on before the good is gone
I know I’ll never love this way again

They Long To Be (Close To You) – Carpenters

Released in 1970

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you

Crazy Love – Van Morrison

Released in 1970

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Yes it makes me righteous, yes it makes me whole
Yes it makes me mellow down into my soul
She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

Your Song – Elton John

Released in 1970

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in the words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King

Released in 1971

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I know that my emotions
Are somethin’ I just can’t tame
I just got to have ya, baby

I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You – Tom Waits

Released in 1973

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You’re nowhere to be found
I search the place for your lost face
Guess I’ll have another round
And I think that I just fell in love with you

Time In A Bottle – Jim Croce

Released in 1973

Lyrics To Inspire You:

The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

Four Tops – Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)

Released in 1973

Lyrics To Inspire You:

She don’t ask for things, no diamond rings
(So together, like a hand in glove)
Like pages in a letter
(Ain’t no woman like the one I love)

I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton

Released in 1974

Lyrics To Inspire You:

And I wish you happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
I love you
I will always love you

You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker

Released in 1974

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Can’t you see
You’re everything I hoped for
You’re everything I need
You are so beautiful
To me

Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton

Released in 1975

Lyrics To Inspire You:

No one else can make me feel
The colors that you bring
Stay with me while we grow old

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

Released in 1975

Lyrics To Inspire You:

You brought a lot of a sunshine into my life
You filled me with happiness I never knew
You gave me more joy than I ever dreamed of

How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees

Released in 1977

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You’re the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You’re my savior when I fall

Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel

Released in 1977

Lyrics To Inspire You:

I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far, mmm
I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times
I’ll take you just the way you are

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Released in 1977

Lyrics To Inspire You:

And then she asks me, “Do I look alright?”
And I say, “Yes, you look wonderful tonight”

Still – Commodores

Released in 1979

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Remembering the pain if I must say
It’s deep in my mind and locked away
But then most of all
I do love you
Still

You Decorated My Life – Kenny Rogers

Released in 1979

Lyrics To Inspire You:

And you decorated my life
Created a world
Where dreams are apart
And you decorated my life
By paintin’ your love all over my heart

Longer – Dan Fogelberg

Released in 1979

Lyrics To Inspire You:

Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you

Do you have a favorite love song of the 1970s? Please share your song below in the comments!