If You Really Love Me

Louis Prima · Other Songs - Louis Prima

And if you really love me won't you tell me

And if you really love me won't you tell me

And if you really love me won't you tell me

Then I won't have to be

Playing around

You call my name

Oooh so sweet

To make your kiss incomplete

When your mood is clear

You quickly change your ways

Then you say I'm untrue

What am I supposed to do

Be a fool who sits alone waiting for you

But if you really love me won't you tell me

But if you really love me won't you tell me

And if you really love me won't you tell me

Then I won't have to be

Playing around

I see the light of your smile

Calling me all the while

You are saying baby

It's time to go

First the feeling's alright

Then it's gone from sight

So I'm taking out this time to say

Oh if you really love me won't you tell me

Oh if you really love me won't you tell me

And if you really love me won't you tell me

Then I won't have to be

Playing around no

Playing around no

Hey yeah

Goofin' around no

Oh baby

Playing around no

Let me know how you feel baby

Hey oh baby

Playing around no

If You Really Love Me

Louis Prima's "If You Really Love Me" stands as a quintessential example of swing-era jazz, blending infectious rhythm with the artist's signature comedic flair. Recorded in the late 1940s, the track exemplifies Prima's ability to merge sophisticated musical arrangements with lighthearted, often self-deprecating lyrics that defined his public persona. As a staple of his discography, the song captures the buoyant energy of big band performance, featuring Prima's distinctive trumpet work and vocal delivery that encouraged audience participation. The piece remains a cultural touchstone for swing music enthusiasts, illustrating how Prima transformed the jazz standard into an entertaining spectacle that prioritized joy and musical virtuosity over serious sentiment. Its enduring appeal lies in its perfect synthesis of danceable groove and theatrical charm, cementing its place in the canon of American popular music from the mid-20th century.