About the song
“Somethin’ Stupid,” also known as “Something Stupid,” is a timeless song penned by C. Carson Parks. Originally recorded in 1966 by Parks and his wife Gaile Foote under the name Carson and Gaile, the song gained widespread acclaim with its 1967 version by Frank Sinatra and his daughter, Nancy Sinatra. This rendition became a major international success, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
Carson Parks was a prominent folk singer in Los Angeles during the early 1960s. He was involved with The Easy Riders and performed with The Steeltown Three, a group that included his younger brother Van Dyke Parks. In 1963, Parks formed the Greenwood County Singers, later known as The Greenwoods. The group, which featured Gaile Foote, achieved modest success with a few minor hits. Before the Greenwoods disbanded, Parks and Foote married and released an album in 1966 that included “Somethin’ Stupid.”
The song’s charming melody and heartfelt lyrics caught the attention of Frank Sinatra, who decided to record it with his daughter Nancy. Their version, released in 1967, became a massive hit. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed at the top of the easy listening chart for nine weeks. This version also climbed to the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart, showcasing its broad appeal.
The Sinatra recording featured guitar work by Al Casey and drumming by Hal Blaine, with the production handled by Lee Hazlewood and Jimmy Bowen. Notably, it was the first and only instance of a father-daughter duo achieving a number-one hit in America. The single was also nominated for Record of the Year at the 10th Grammy Awards.
In 2001, the song was revisited by British singer Robbie Williams and Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who also achieved a number one hit with their cover in the UK. “Somethin’ Stupid” continues to be celebrated for its unique blend of family collaboration and its enduring appeal across generations.
Video
Lyrics
I know I stand in line
Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go some place to dance
I know that there’s a chance
You won’t be leaving with me
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying somethin’ stupid like, “I love you”
I can see it in your eyes
That you despise the same old lies
You heard the night before
And though it’s just a line to you
For me it’s true
And never seemed so right before
I practice every day
To find some clever lines to say
To make the meaning come true
But then I think I’ll wait
Until the evening gets late
And I’m alone with you
The time is right, your perfume fills my head
The stars get red, and, oh, the night’s so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying somethin’ stupid like, “I love you”
The time is right, your perfume fills my head
The stars get red, and, oh, the night’s so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying somethin’ stupid like, “I love you”
“I love you”
“I love you”
“I love you”
“I love you”