Bette Midler

Released: December 3, 1979

Songwriter: Tampa Red

Producer: Paul A. Rothchild

Man: "All right! She's gonna sing!"
Rose: "All right, we all turn to page 438. Now, you know we all gonna sing along. Oh, I do love a revue."

Ohhhhhh!
You know, women don't like this woman
'cause I always speak my mind
But the men ain't crazy about me
'cause I love to take my time

If you're gonna love this woman
Gotta love me with a thrill
'cause, baby, if you don't
I gotta find a man who will

Love me with a feeling
You got to love me with a feelin'
You got to love me with a feelin'
Or you don't love me at all

You know, I'm the kind of woman
I don't want no halfway stuff
If you're gonna turn me loose, baby
Be sure I had enough

You know, the cops once took me in
But I did not need the bail
I just shook it for the judge and he
He put that cop in jail

You got to love me with a feeling
You got to love me with a feelin'
You got to love me with a feelin'
Or you don't love me at all

"All right, Milledge, this one's for you."
There was one cat who could not make it
And Milledge was his name
The only cat I ever knew
Who left before he came

There he's a-standing
Drinkin' pop from a paper cup
But when it's time for gettin' down
Millitch can not get it up!

You gotta love me with a feelin'
Yeah, love, love me with a feelin'
You got to love me with a feelin'
Or you can't love me at all

"Oh, no, no. Wait. Oh, no. No, wait a minute. . . . I can't just walk out on my old friends, now can I?"

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

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording

From the album

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording (1979)

Bette Midler popular songs

Love Me with a FeelingBette Midler

Bette Midler

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording