Bette Midler

Released: September 4, 1990

Songwriter: Billy Steinberg Susanna Hoffs Tom Kelly

Producer: Arif Mardin

You ask me what I want
You ask me what I need
It's nothing you can buy
My heart's not ruled by greed
I don't love a diamond
Diamond's you see through
I want you to hold me
I want you to be true

Give me the gift of love
Look me in the eyes
Say I'm the one you're dreamin' of
That'd be the best surprise
Give me the gift of your sweet love
In the light of the day
In the dark of night

Like the colors of the sun
The feelings in your heart
It's all I want from you
And when the sky is dark
I'll have you beside me
Who could ask for more?
I'll just wear a smile
When you walk in the door

Give me the gift of love
Look me in the eyes
Say I'm the one you're dreamin' of
That'd be the best surprise
Give me the gift of your sweet love
In the light of the day
In the dark of night

Give me the gift of love
Look me in the eyes
Say I'm the one you're dreamin' of
That'd be the best surprise
Give me the gift of your sweet love
In the light of the day
In the dark of night

Give me the gift of love
Look me in the eyes
Say I'm the one
That'd be the best surprise
Give me the gift of your sweet love
In the light of the day
In the dark of night
Always. Oooooh

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Some People’s Lives

From the albums

Some People’s Lives (1990)
Jackpot! The Best Bette (2008)

Bette Midler popular songs

The Gift of LoveBette Midler

Bette Midler

Some People’s Lives