Last night they played Grease on ABC Family. I tried to watch it with my daughter, who got bored before the first singing number. “Mommy, was all acting this bad in the seventies?” she asked before going upstairs to catch the latest episode of Long Island Medium. Even my mom, who suffered through many a performance of the entire play by me when I was a kid (and who was over for dinner) bailed after Summer Loving.
I kept on watching alone. I probably haven’t seen it in twenty years, but as its campy, silly plotline played out it sent me right back to the late 1970’s. I’d just come back to the U.S. after two years away. My parents took me and my best friend to see it in a run-down little theater in ratty Union City, New Jersey. I still remember feeling so grown up because, although I was nine, I was very big for my age so I was wearing one of my mom’s old skirts. (It helped that my mom is tiny and I was already the same height as she was).
I fell in love with Grease instantly. My parents bought me the record (yes, a vinyl record) and I played it until the grooves were worn out. My favorite song, by far, was Hopelessly Devoted to You, the anthem of doormats everywhere. I didn’t quite know at nine what it would feel like to fall in love but I was pretty sure it would be a thankless business. (Newsflash: I was right). I belted this song out night and day for a year and a half. (Have I mentioned my mother is a saint?)
What a great song to sing in the shower. And I just love Olivia Newton-John’s voice. I thought she was the coolest chick ever in this song. (I hated the new, provocatively-dressed Sandy. Even at nine I knew it was dumb to change for a man. But I was fine for pining for one).
Hopelessly Devoted to You Lyrics
Guess mine is not the first heart broken
My eyes are not the first to cry
I’m not the first to know there’s just no getting over you
I know I’m just a fool who’s willing
To sit around and wait for you
But baby can’t you see there’s nothing else for me to do
I’m hopelessly devoted to you.
But now there’s nowhere to hide
Since you pushed my love aside
I’m out of my head
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
My head is saying, fool forget him
My heart is saying don’t let go
Hold on to the end.
That’s what I intend to do.
I’m hopelessly devoted to you.
But now there’s nowhere to hide
Since you pushed my love aside
I’m out of my head
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
