Give Me One Reason

"Give Me One Reason" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was released on her 1995 album New Beginning, and as a single the same year, her first since 1992's "Dreaming on a World." The song is Chapman's biggest US hit to date, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also her biggest hit in Australia, where it reached number three as well, and it topped the charts of Canada and Iceland. Elsewhere, the song reached number 16 in New Zealand, but it underperformed in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 95 in March 1997.

"Give Me One Reason"
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album New Beginning
B-side"The Rape of the World"
Released1995
Recorded1995
GenreBlues rock
Length4:30
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Dreaming on a World"
(1992)		 "Give Me One Reason"
(1995)		 "New Beginning"
(1996)
Audio sample
"Give Me One Reason"
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Chapman first performed "Give Me One Reason" six years before its release, on the December 16, 1989, episode of Saturday Night Live. Chapman earned the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the track, that was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1997. A well known version of this song featuring Eric Clapton was released in 1999 in the compilation album A Very Special Christmas Live. A music video was released to promote the single. Junior Wells recorded a cover of the song in 1996 featuring Sonny Landreth playing guitar.

Lyrics and style

The song is a classic twelve-bar blues, both in musical structure and the repeated lyrics in each verse and chorus. It is the story of an ending relationship, and a plea from the narrator to her partner for the partner to convince her to remain, to "give me one reason to stay here, and I'll turn right back around." At the end of the song, the partner is apparently given voice for the last line, "said I told you that I loved you, and there ain't no more to say."

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21] Gold 5,000*
United States (RIAA)[22] Platinum 1,100,000[23]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3004." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  3. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3021." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  4. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.8. – 23.8. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 17, 1996. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  5. "Charts.nz – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  8. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  9. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  10. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  11. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  12. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  13. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  14. "1996 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  15. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  16. "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  17. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  18. "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  19. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  20. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  21. "New Zealand single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Recorded Music NZ.
  22. "American single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  23. "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 109 (3): 61. January 18, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
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