I love this song very much but have heard it in perfoming by Randy Crawford.

Charlene sang it in far 1974. Charlene was christened by her mother under the name Charlene Marilynn D’Angelo, but later she shortened to Charlene for her record label. In 1973, Charlene signed with the legendary record label Motown Records under the name “Charlene Duncan”, and released her first single “All That Love Went to Waste” in January 1974. Charlene originally recorded “I’ve Never Been to Me” in 1976, and the single reached #97 on the USA’s Hot 100 singles chart in 1977. When released again in 1982, the single reached #3 in the United States (US), and #1, by June 1982, in the United Kingdom (UK). The song has been her only Top 40 hit as of 2010.

Charlene did three versions of the song, the initial version of which was actually the second version recorded. Her original (and ultimately most popular) version includes an expanded bridge, in which the singer makes an impassioned comparison between the noncommittal “fantasy about people and places as we’d like them to be,” versus the committed real love of a family

Hey lady, you lady
cursing at your life
you’re a discontented mother
and a regimented wife
I `ve no doubt
you dream about the things you never do
but I wish someone had a talk to me like I wanna talk to you

Oh, I’ve been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run
Took the hand of a preacher man
and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me…

Please lady please lady
don’t just walk away
Cause I have this need to tell you
why I’m all alone today
I can see so much of me
still living in your eyes
won’t you share a part
of a weary heart that has lived a million lives

Oh, I’ve been to Nice and the isle of Greece
when I sipped champagne on a yacht
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
and showed them what I’ve got
I’ve been undressed by kings
and I’ve seen some things that a woman ain’t s’pose to see
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me…

Hey, you know what paradise is?
It’s a lie
a fantasy we created about people and places
as we like them to be
but you know what truth is?
it’s that little baby you’re holding
and it’s that man you fought with this morning
the same one you are gonna make love to tonight
that’s truth that’s love

Sometimes I’ve been to crying for unborn children
that might have made me complete
but I, I took the sweet life
I never knew I’d be bitter from the sweet
I spent my life exploring
the subtle whoring
that costs too much to be free
hey lady I’ve been to paradise
but I’ve never been to me…

I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me…

I should try to be good
Forever and ever, amen
So I’ll touch wood
And hope I don’t get caught again
Without my lines
And off the mark
Looking for signs
I can’t see here in the dark
My opening won’t be a great success
Till you come get me out of
This little black mess
I’ll play my part
And say never ever again
Then cross my heart
Cry until you say when
A little cheat while you turn away
Things we repeat one more time
Day after day
I’ve lost my appetite so nonetheless
It fits like a glove now
My little black mess

Who’s to say if we’ll know
When it’s time for this old thing to go

And so if I’m good
Could you forgive how I’ve been?
You misunderstood
Now if you’d just let me begin
To put on my face
I’ll put on the room
Go take my place
One more time
Then we can resume
It’s true I’m sure to die out here unless
You come help me out of
This little black mess

At eight o’clock we said goodbye
that’s when I left her house for mine.
She said that she’d be staying in
well she had to be at work by nine
So I get home and have a bath
and let an hour or two pass
drifting in front of my tv
when a film comes on that she wants to see.

It’s monday morning 5:19
and I’m still wondering where she’s been
’cos every time I try to call
I just get her machine.
and now it’s almost six am,
and I don’t want to try again,
’cos if she’s still not back
then this must be the end.

.at first I guess she’s gone to get
herself a pack of cigarettes,
a pint of milk, food for the cat
but it’s midnight now and she’s still not back.

It’s monday morning 5:19
and I’m still wondering where she’s been
’cos every time I try to call I just get her machine
and now it’s almost six am
and I don’t want to try again,
’cos if she’s still not back then heaven knows,
what then, is this the end?

At half past two I picture her
in the back of someone else’s car
he runs his fingers through her hair…
oh you shouldn’t let him touch you there!

It’s monday morning 5:19
and I’m still wondering where she’s been
’cos every time I try to call I just get her machine
and now it’s almost six am
and I don’t want to try again,
’cos if she’s still not back then heaven knows,
what then, is this the end?

Reach out and touch faith
Your own Personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own Personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who’s there

Feeling’s unknown and you’re all alone
Flesh and bone by the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I’ll make you a believer

Take second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess
I will deliver
You know I’m a forgiver
Reach out and touch faith

Your own Personal Jesus
Feeling’s unknown and you’re all alone
Flesh and bone by the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I’ll make you a believer
I will deliver
You know I’m a forgiver
Reach out and touch faith
Your own Personal Jesus
Reach out and touch faith

Came in from the city
Walked into the door
I turned around when I heard the sound
Of footsteps on the floor

Love just like addiction
Now I’m hooked on you
I need some time to get it right
Your love gonna see me through

Can’t stop now don’t you know
I ain’t never gonna let you go
Don’t go, don’t go…

Baby make your mind up
Give me what you got
Fix me with your lovin’
Shut the door and turn the lock

Hey go get the doctor
Doctor came to late
Another night I feel alright
My love for you can’t wait

Can’t stop now don’t you know
I ain’t never gonna let you go
Don’t go

Can’t stop now don’t you know
I ain’t never gonna let you go
Don’t go, don’t go…

Came in from the city
Walked into the door
I turned around when I heard the sound
Of footsteps on the floor

Said he was a killer
Now I know it’s true
I’m dead when you walk out the door
Hey babe I’m hooked on you, oh yeah

Can’t stop now don’t you know
I ain’t never gonna let you go
Don’t go, don’t go…

Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On a-Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby , kiss me

Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you

Fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, in other words
I love … you

As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to know
You’ve always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go

And oh when I’m old and wise
Bitter words mean little to me
Autumn winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they asked me if I knew you
I’d smile and say you were a friend of mine
And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes
Oh when I’m old and wise

As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You’ve always shared my darkest hours
I’ll miss you when I go

And oh, when I’m old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like autumn winds that will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that you were a frined of mine
As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I’m old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

“Brighter Than Sunshine”

I never understood before
I never knew what love was for
My heart was broke, my head was sore
What a feeling

Tied up in ancient history
I didnt believe in destiny
I look up you’re standing next to me
What a feeling

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
Brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, i don’t care
I’m yours and suddenly you’re mine
Suddenly you’re mine
And it’s brighter than sunshine

I never saw it happening
I’d given up and given in
I just couldn’t take the hurt again
What a feeling

I didn’t have the strength to fight
Suddenly you seemed so right
Me and you
What a feeling

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It’s brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don’t care
I’m yours and suddenly you’re mine
Suddenly you’re mine

It’s brighter than the sun
It’s brighter than the sun
It’s brighter than the sun, sun, shine.

Love will remain a mystery
But give me your hand and you will see
Your heart is keeping time with me

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It’s brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don’t care
I’m yours and suddenly you’re mine
Suddenly you’re mine

Wielka mi?o??, wielka si?a, zostajemy jej wierni na zawsze… Here is the final scene from Uprowadzenie Agaty (AKA Abduction of Agata / Hijacking of Agata / Hijacking Agatha) (1993)

Director Marek Piwowski
scenario Marek Piwowski
Photos Andrzej Jaroszewicz
music Seweryn Krajewski

Czekasz na t? jedn? chwil?,
serce jak szalone bije,
zrozumia?em, po co ?yj?,
wiem, ?e czujesz to co ja.

Ej, za krótko trwa godzina,
niech si? chwila ta zatrzyma,
moim szcz??ciem chc? nakarmi?
calutki ?wiat, zdziwiony tak.

Wielka mi?o?? nie wybiera,
czy jej chcemy nie pyta nas wcale,
wielka mi?o??, wielka si?a
zostajemy jej wierni na zawsze

Min? lata, gwiazdy zgasn?,
fotografie w g?owie zgasn?,
gdy nas ludzka z?o?? roz??czy
jak i tak odnajd? Ci?,
kiedy rozum ka?e zw?tpi?,
czekaj, zadr?y ?wiecy p?omie?
bo po drugiej rzeki stronie,
jak dobrze wiem, tam ogród jest.

Wielka mi?o?? nie wybiera,
czy jej chcemy nie pyta nas wcale,
wielka mi?o??, wielka si?a
zostajemy jej wierni na zawsze Czekasz na t? jedn? chwil?,
serce jak szalone bije,
zrozumia?em, po co ?yj?,
wiem, ?e czujesz to co ja.

Ej, za krótko trwa godzina,
niech si? chwila ta zatrzyma,
moim szcz??ciem chc? nakarmi?
calutki ?wiat, zdziwiony tak.

Wielka mi?o?? nie wybiera,
czy jej chcemy nie pyta nas wcale,
wielka mi?o??, wielka si?a
zostajemy jej wierni na zawsze

Min? lata, gwiazdy zgasn?,
fotografie w g?owie zgasn?,
gdy nas ludzka z?o?? roz??czy
jak i tak odnajd? Ci?,
kiedy rozum ka?e zw?tpi?,
czekaj, zadr?y ?wiecy p?omie?
bo po drugiej rzeki stronie,
jak dobrze wiem, tam ogród jest.

Wielka mi?o?? nie wybiera,
czy jej chcemy nie pyta nas wcale,
wielka mi?o??, wielka si?a
zostajemy jej wierni na zawsze

My two favorites – TINA TURNER and CARLOS SANTANA. Tina – with sales of 170 million albums and a phenomenal number of hit records to her career; River Deep, Mountain High, Proud Mary, What’s Love Got To Do With It, Better Be Good To Me, Typical Male, What You See is What You Get, Steamy Windows, We Don’t Need Another Hero, Goldeneye, The Best … Tina Turner is the most successful female rock artist of all time and the undisputed Queen of Rock N Roll. Carlos Santana – One of the more prominent figures to emerge from the lively West Coast rock scene of the late 60s, Carlos Santana was born into a family with a long history in the music field. He spent his early years in Mexico, receiving his first musical instruction from his father, a Mariachi violinist, who attempted for several years to train his son on the instrument. By the time he reached the age of eight, however, little Carlos had fallen under the influence of blues performers such as B. B. King and John Lee Hooker, and the violin was abandoned in favor of the guitar.

Tell me
Just what you want me to be
One kiss
And boom you’re the only one for me
So please tell me why
Don’t you come around no more?
‘Cause right now I’m cryin’
Outside the door
Of the candy store

It just takes a little bit of this, a little bit of that
It started with a kiss now we’re up to bat
A little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
I’m tellin’ you my babe, its all in the game of love–

–Is
Whatever you make it to be
Sunshine instead of this cold, lonely sea
So please baby try
And you’ll live for what I’m good for
It ain’t sayin’ goodbye
Its knockin’ down the door
Of your candy store

You roll me, control me, console me
Please hold me!
You guide me, divide me into whole–yeah!

(Make me feel good–yeah!)

So please tell me why
Don’t you come around no more?
‘Cause right now I’m dyin’
Outside the door
Of your lovin’ store

Its all in this game of love, its all in the game of love
All in the game of love
(A little bit of this, a little bit of that)
You roll me, control me, please hold me
(A little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain)
And I’m here on my own…on my own