It 's only Make Believe - wikipedia It 's only Make Believe This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( February 2013 ) `` It 's Only Make Believe '' Single by Conway Twitty from the album Sings B - side `` I 'll Try '' Released July 14, 1958 Format 7 '' single Genre Country, rockabilly, pop Length 2 : 10 Label MGM Songwriter ( s ) Jack Nance, Conway Twitty Producer ( s ) Jim Vienneau Conway Twitty singles chronology `` I Need Your Lovin ' '' ( 1957 ) `` It 's Only Make Believe '' ( 1958 ) `` The Story of My Love '' ( 1959 ) `` I Need Your Lovin ' '' ( 1957 ) `` It 's Only Make Believe '' ( 1958 ) `` The Story of My Love '' ( 1959 ) `` It 's Only Make Believe '' is a song written by Jack Nance and American country music artist Conway Twitty, and produced by MGM Records ' Jim Vienneau, released by Twitty as a single in July 1958. The single topped both U.S. and the UK Singles Chart, and was Twitty 's only number - one single on the pop charts of either country. On a segment of Pop Goes The Country, Twitty states the single was a hit in 22 different countries and sold over 8 million copies. It is believed that Twitty wrote his part of the song while sitting on a fire escape outside his hotel room, to escape the summer heat, in Hamilton, Ontario. Twitty had come to Canada at the request of another American singer, Rompin ' Ronnie Hawkins, due to Hawkins saying to Twitty that Canada was the ' promised land ' for music. Twitty recorded many subsequent versions of `` It 's Only Make Believe '', including a 1970 duet with Loretta Lynn on their very first collaborative album, We Only Make Believe. Twitty joins in on the last verse in a 1988 uptempo cover by Ronnie McDowell, which was a # 8 hit on the country music charts. Additionally, Twitty contributed to an alternative cover by McDowell. Contents 1 Content 2 Chart performance 2.1 Conway Twitty version 3 Cover versions 4 Chart performance 4.1 Glen Campbell version 4.2 Year - end chart 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Content The song 's lyrics describe the thoughts and feelings of a man who is in a one - way relationship : He has a girlfriend, but she does not love him and only stays in the relationship for appearances, a fact of which he is painfully aware. He hopes and prays that, at some point in the future, the woman whom he is in love with will return his love, but laments that, at present, `` it 's only make believe. '' Chart performance Conway Twitty version Chart ( 1958 -- 1959 ) Peak position Australian Singles Chart 5 Canadian Singles Chart Italian Singles Chart 9 Norwegian Singles Chart UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 Cover versions The Hollies covered it in 1963. Billy Fury had a UK # 10 hit with his version in 1964, which also went to # 1 in Singapore. Jerry Williams the Swedish rock n ' roll icon, made a cover in 1970. Roy Hamilton recorded a version at Chips Moman 's American studios in Memphis in 1969. Glen Campbell 's 1970 recording for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album became a top ten hit in both the United States and United Kingdom. Lynn Anderson recorded a version for her 1970 album Rose Garden. Ronnie McDowell had a # 8 single on the Billboard country chart in 1988 after recording the song as a duet with Twitty. The pop band Child released the song as a single in 1978, reaching the top ten in the UK Charts. Australian rock band Cold Chisel recorded a thundering version of the song in 1983 on their Barking Spiders Live album. American pop - rock band Cock Robin recorded the song during their third album First Love Last Rites ( 1989 ) recording sessions, but the track was only released in the 1990 US version of the album, and more generally as a bonus track in their Best of Cock Robin compilation album in 1991. Canadian country music singer Carroll Baker covered the song on her 1991 compilation Her Finest Collection. It was released as the album 's first single and peaked at number 28 on the RPM Country Tracks chart. The horror punk band Misfits have a cover version on their 2003 covers album Project 1950, retitled `` Only Make Believe ''. Queen guitarist Brian May has also covered it, his band consisting of Cozy Powell, Jamie Moses, Spike Edney & Neil Murray. May 's cover was on the b - side of his 1998 single `` Why Do n't We Try Again ''. Clay Aiken recorded the song for his 2010 album Tried and True. In 2012, Fiona Apple performed the song as the closing number of all the shows in her The Idler Wheel Tour. Screamin ' Jay Hawkins covered the song on his 1972 album `` A Portrait of a Man and his Woman '' and it has appeared on several subsequent compilation albums. Ivo Linna and Rock Hotel recorded Estonian version titled `` Liiv tuule käes '' ( words Ats Joorits ) in 1986. Robert Gordon covered this song in 1979 Chart performance Glen Campbell version Chart ( 1970 ) Peak position Australian KMR Canadian RPM Country Tracks Canadian RPM Top Singles 5 Euro Hit 50 10 Irish Singles Chart New Zealand Singles Chart U.K. Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 10 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) U.S. Billboard Easy Listening Year - end chart Chart ( 1970 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 99 Canadian RPM Top Singles 76 U.S. Cashbox Top 100 66 See also List of number - one singles from the 1950s ( UK ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1958 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 647. ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 92 -- 3. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Conway Twitty on Pop Goes The Country ''. YouTube. 2007 - 08 - 10. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 13. Jump up ^ `` RPM Country Tracks ''. RPM. February 23, 1991. Retrieved September 8, 2013. Jump up ^ `` A Portrait Of A Man And His Woman - Screamin ' Jay Hawkins -- Listen and discover music at ''. Last.fm. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 13. Jump up ^ https://www.discogs.com/Robert-Gordon-Its-Only-Make-Believe/release/4131489 Jump up ^ `` Go - Set Australian charts - 26 December 1970 ''. Poparchives.com.au. 1970 - 12 - 26. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Glen Campbell -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Glen Campbell. Jump up ^ `` Glen Campbell -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Country Songs for Glen Campbell. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` It 's All in the Game '' by Tommy Edwards Billboard Hot 100 number one single 10 November 1958 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Tom Dooley '' by The Kingston Trio Preceded by `` Tom Dooley '' by The Kingston Trio Billboard Hot 100 number one single 24 November 1958 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` To Know Him Is to Love Him '' by The Teddy Bears UK Christmas number - one singles in the 1950s `` Here in My Heart '' ( Al Martino, 1952 ) `` Answer Me '' ( Frankie Laine, 1953 ) `` Let 's Have Another Party '' ( Winifred Atwell, 1954 ) `` Christmas Alphabet '' ( Dickie Valentine, 1955 ) `` Just Walkin ' in the Rain '' ( Johnnie Ray, 1956 ) `` Mary 's Boy Child '' ( Harry Belafonte, 1957 ) `` It 's Only Make Believe '' ( Conway Twitty, 1958 ) `` What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For ? '' ( Emile Ford & The Checkmates, 1959 ) Complete list 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Conway Twitty Studio albums Sings Saturday Night with Conway Twitty Lonely Blue Boy House on Old Lonesome Road Crazy in Love Even Now Final Touches Collaboration albums We Only Make Believe Lead Me On Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man Country Partners Dynamic Duo Compilation albums 25 Number Ones Notable singles `` It 's Only Make Believe '' `` Mona Lisa '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Next in Line '' `` I Love You More Today '' `` To See My Angel Cry '' `` Hello Darlin ' '' `` Fifteen Years Ago '' `` How Much More Can She Stand '' `` I Ca n't See Me Without You '' `` ( Lost Her Love ) On Our Last Date '' `` I Ca n't Stop Loving You '' `` She Needs Someone to Hold Her ( When She Cries ) '' `` You 've Never Been This Far Before '' `` There 's a Honky Tonk Angel ( Who 'll Take Me Back In ) '' `` I 'm Not Through Loving You Yet '' `` I See the Want To in Your Eyes '' `` Linda on My Mind '' `` Touch the Hand '' `` This Time I 've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me '' `` After All the Good Is Gone '' `` The Games That Daddies Play '' `` I Ca n't Believe She Gives It All to Me '' `` Play Guitar Play '' `` I 've Already Loved You in My Mind '' `` Georgia Keeps Pulling on My Ring '' `` Boogie Grass Band '' `` Your Love Had Taken Me That High '' `` Do n't Take It Away '' `` I May Never Get to Heaven '' `` Happy Birthday Darlin ' '' `` I 'd Love to Lay You Down '' `` Rest Your Love on Me '' `` Tight Fittin ' Jeans '' `` Red Neckin ' Love Makin ' Night '' `` The Clown '' `` Slow Hand '' `` We Did But Now You Do n't '' `` The Rose '' `` We Had It All '' `` Lost in the Feeling '' `` Heartache Tonight '' `` Three Times a Lady '' `` Somebody 's Needin ' Somebody '' `` I Do n't Know a Thing About Love ( The Moon Song ) '' `` Ai n't She Somethin ' Else '' `` Do n't Call Him a Cowboy '' `` Between Blue Eyes and Jeans '' `` Desperado Love '' `` Fallin ' for You for Years '' `` Julia '' `` I Want to Know You Before We Make Love '' `` That 's My Job '' `` Goodbye Time '' `` Saturday Night Special '' `` I Wish I Was Still in Your Dreams '' `` She 's Got a Single Thing in Mind '' `` House on Old Lonesome Road '' `` Fit to Be Tied Down '' `` Crazy in Love '' `` I Could n't See You Leavin ' '' `` Rainy Night in Georgia '' Collaboration singles `` After the Fire Is Gone '' `` Lead Me On '' `` Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man '' `` Feelins ' '' `` The Letter '' `` I Ca n't Love You Enough '' `` Making Believe '' `` Do n't Cry Joni '' Related articles Discography Discography with Loretta Lynn MGM Records Decca Records MCA Records Elektra Records Warner Bros. Records Joni Lee Glen Campbell Studio albums Big Bluegrass Special Too Late to Worry - Too Blue to Cry The Astounding 12 - String Guitar of Glen Campbell The Big Bad Rock Guitar of Glen Campbell Burning Bridges Gentle on My Mind By the Time I Get to Phoenix Hey Little One A New Place in the Sun Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell That Christmas Feeling Wichita Lineman Galveston True Grit Try a Little Kindness Oh Happy Day Norwood The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album The Last Time I Saw Her Anne Murray / Glen Campbell The Artistry of Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell I Knew Jesus ( Before He Was a Star ) I Remember Hank Williams Houston ( I 'm Comin ' to See You ) Reunion : The Songs of Jimmy Webb Ernie Sings & Glen Picks Rhinestone Cowboy Bloodline Southern Nights Basic Highwayman Somethin ' ' Bout You Baby I Like It 's the World Gone Crazy Old Home Town Letter to Home No More Night It 's Just a Matter of Time Still Within the Sound of My Voice Light Years Favorite Hymns Walkin ' in the Sun Unconditional Love Show Me Your Way Rock - A-Doodle Wings of Victory Somebody Like That Home for the Holidays The Boy in Me Christmas with Glen Campbell A Glen Campbell Christmas My Hits and Love Songs Love Is the Answer : 24 Songs of Faith, Hope and Love Meet Glen Campbell Ghost on the Canvas See You There I 'll Be Me soundtrack Adiós Live albums Glen Campbell Live Live in Japan Live at the Royal Festival Hall Glen Campbell Live Glen Campbell Live ! His Greatest Hits Glen Campbell in Concert with the South Dakota Symphony Through the Years Live - Ultimate Collection Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb : In Session Compilations Country Shindig The 12 String Guitar of Glen Campbell Glen Campbell Plays 12 String Guitar Portrait Country Soul Country Music Star No. 1 The Glen Campbell Album Limited Collector 's Edition A Satisfied Mind Glen Campbell 's Greatest Hits Gentle on My Mind The Good Time Songs of Glen Campbell I 'll Paint You a Song Arkansas The Best of Glen Campbell Glen Campbell 's Twenty Golden Greats The Great Hits of Glen Campbell The Glen Campbell Collection All I Have to Do Is Dream The Very Best of Glen Campbell Presents His Hits in Concert Classics Collection Greatest Country Hits Best of the Early Years Merry Christmas All - Time Greatest Hits The Essential Glen Campbell Volume One The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Two The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Three Jesus and Me : The Collection Home at Last The Glen Campbell Collection ( 1962 -- 1989 ) Gentle on My Mind The Capitol Years 65 / 77 Reunited with Jimmy Webb 1974 -- 1988 Love Songs Glen Campbell Christmas Super Hits 20 Greatest Hits Rhinestone Cowboy / Bloodline The Lambert & Potter Sessions 1975 -- 1976 Southern Nights / Basic All the Best The Legacy ( 1961 -- 2002 ) Rhinestone Cowboy ( New Studio Recordings ) Glen Campbell Collection Rhinestone Cowboy Live, on the Air & in the Studio Sings the Best of Jimmy Webb 1967 -- 1992 The Platinum Collection Classic Campbell Words and Music Greatest Hits Singles `` Turn Around, Look at Me '' `` Too Late to Worry - Too Blue to Cry '' `` Long Black Limousine '' `` Guess I 'm Dumb '' `` Universal Soldier '' `` Gentle on My Mind '' `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' `` Hey Little One '' `` I Wanna Live '' `` Dreams of the Everyday Housewife '' `` Wichita Lineman '' `` Let It Be Me '' ( with Bobbie Gentry ) `` Galveston '' `` Where 's the Playground Susie '' `` True Grit '' `` Try a Little Kindness '' `` Honey Come Back '' `` All I Have to Do Is Dream '' ( with Bobbie Gentry ) `` Oh Happy Day '' `` Everything a Man Could Ever Need '' `` It 's Only Make Believe '' `` Dream Baby ( How Long Must I Dream ) '' `` The Last Time I Saw Her '' `` I Say a Little Prayer '' `` Oklahoma Sunday Morning '' `` Manhattan, Kansas '' `` Bonaparte 's Retreat '' `` Rhinestone Cowboy '' `` Country Boy ( You Got Your Feet in L.A. ) '' `` Do n't Pull Your Love / Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye '' `` Southern Nights '' `` Sunflower '' `` I Love How You Love Me '' `` Faithless Love '' `` A Lady Like You '' `` It 's Just a Matter of Time '' `` The Hand That Rocks the Cradle '' ( with Steve Wariner ) `` Still Within the Sound of My Voice '' `` I Remember You '' `` I Have You '' `` She 's Gone, Gone, Gone '' `` I 'm Not Gonna Miss You '' Related articles Discography Collaborative discography Videos The Beach Boys Glen Campbell : I 'll Be Me The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour Ashley Campbell Ronnie McDowell Notable singles `` Wandering Eyes '' `` Older Women '' `` Watchin ' Girls Go By '' `` I Just Cut Myself '' `` Step Back '' `` Personally '' `` You 're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation '' `` You Made a Wanted Man of Me '' `` I Dream of Women Like You '' `` I Got a Million of ' Em '' `` In a New York Minute '' `` Love Talks '' `` All Tied Up '' `` It 's Only Make Believe '' `` Suspicion '' `` Sea of Heartbreak '' `` Unchained Melody '' `` Love Me Tender '' Related articles Discography Epic Records MCA Records Curb Records Carroll Baker Notable singles `` It 's Late ( And I Have to Go ) '' `` I 've Never Been This Far Before '' `` The Hungry Fire of Love '' `` One Night of Cheatin ' '' `` Tonight with Love '' `` Why I Had to Pass This Way '' `` It 's My Party '' `` The Morning After Baby Let Me Down '' `` I Might as Well Believe ( I 'll Live Forever ) '' `` Portrait in the Window '' `` Hooked on a Feeling '' `` I 'm Getting High Remembering '' `` Hollywood Love '' `` Still Falling in Love '' `` I 'm So Excited '' `` You 've Lost That Lovin ' Feelin ' '' `` It 's Only Make Believe '' Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It%27s_Only_Make_Believe&oldid=797072608 '' Categories : Christmas number - one singles in the United Kingdom 1958 singles 1970 singles 1987 singles Conway Twitty songs Glen Campbell songs Ronnie McDowell songs Carroll Baker songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles Songs written by Conway Twitty MGM Records singles Capitol Records singles Curb Records singles 1958 songs Billy Fury songs Schlager songs Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from February 2013 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013 Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Norsk Edit links This page was last edited on 24 August 2017, at 20 : 06. 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Question: who wrote the song it's only make believe
Answer: Jack Nance