Artist: The Association Lyrics
Song: Cherish Lyrics


Cherish is the word I use to describe
All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside
You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you
You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you
You don't know how many times I've wished that I could
Mold you into someone who could
Cherish me as much as I cherish you

Oh I'm beginning to think that man has never found
The words that could make you want me
That have the right amount of letters, just the right sound
That could make you hear, make you see
That you are drivin' me out of my mind

Oh I could say I need you but then you'd realize
That I want you just like a thousand other guys
Who'd say they loved you With all the rest of their lies
When all they wanted was to touch your face, your hands
And gaze into your eyes

Perish is the word that more than applies
To the hope in my heart each time I realize
That I am not gonna be the one to share your dreams
That I am not gonna be the one to share your schemes
That I am not gonna be the one to share what
Seems to be the life that you could
Cherish as much as I do yours

Cherish is the word I use to describe
All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside
You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you
You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you
You don't know how many times I've wished that I could
Mold you into someone who could
Cherish me as much as I cherish you

And I do cherish you
And I do cherish you

Cherish is the word
 

The Association's popularity soon sky-rocketed when their follow-up
single, "Cherish," written by Terry Kirkman , was released in August of
1966.  This song was a result of Kirkman's fascination with the word "Cherish." 
The group's music publisher fought the title, believing it was too "archaic." 
Arranged by the group, this song went through three completely different productions
before finally being recorded and, at the time, was not even considered for release
as a single.  Fortunately, a disc jockey in Ohio took it upon himself to cause a
"regional breakout."  Within a month of its release, "Cherish" had sold well over
one-million copies while rising to "Number One" nationally -- were it remained for
nearly a month.  It soon became one of the main "signature pieces" for the group as
the song earned three Grammy award nominations in 1967 (Best Performance by
a Vocal Group
, Best Contemporary Rock and Roll Recording, and Best
Contemporary Rock and Roll Group Performance
) and was rated on many
industry charts as the "Number One record for the entire year of 1966."  (As of late
1995, "Cherish" was recognized by BMI as one of only a very select few songs that
have been performed over four million times!)  Their first LP, "And Then Along Comes
the Association
,"earned the group another "gold record".  By late September,
The Association
was considered to be one of the most important and influential
groups in the music industry.  In fact, Billboard cited The Association as the first
group to ever displace The Beatles as the world's most popular group in 1966.