Everyone thinks they know this song. It’s the one playing in the background of every wedding reception while the bride’s uncle tries to find his rhythm. It’s the melody that drifts out of grocery store speakers on a Tuesday afternoon. But honestly, Have I Told You Lately I Love You is a bit of a shapeshifter. Depending on how old you are—or what kind of radio your parents listened to—you probably associate it with a completely different person.
Most people immediately hum the Van Morrison version. Others, maybe the more soft-rock inclined, see Rod Stewart’s spiked hair and hear that signature rasp. But the song’s history goes way deeper than the 1980s or 90s. It’s a decades-long journey of reinvention. It’s one of those rare tracks that managed to survive the transition from the "crooner" era into the modern pop landscape without losing its soul.
Where It All Actually Began
Before the synthesizers and the big production of the later covers, there was Scotty Wiseman. He wrote the song back in 1945. Think about that for a second. The world was just coming out of a global war, and here was this simple, sweet country-folk tune. He recorded it with his wife, Lulu Belle, and they were basically the "sweethearts of country music" at the time.
It wasn’t a power ballad then. It was a humble, acoustic-leaning track. But the DNA was there. The sentiment—the idea of realizing you’ve been taking a partner for granted and needing to say the words out loud—is universal. That’s why it stuck. Gene Autry, the legendary "Singing Cowboy," took a crack at it in 1946. Bing Crosby followed. For a while, it was firmly a "standard." It was the kind of song that lived in the Great American Songbook, safe and a little bit polite.
Then came the 1980s.
Van Morrison and the Spiritual Pivot
In 1989, Van Morrison released his album Avalon Sunset. At this point, Van was deep into his "searching" phase. He was looking for meaning, blending his love for Celtic soul with something more transcendental. When he tackled Have I Told You Lately I Love You, he changed the context.
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For Van, it wasn't just a love song to a woman. If you listen to the way he performs it—especially in live sets—it often feels like a prayer. He shifted the focus from a simple romantic gesture to something almost divine. It’s a conversation with a higher power as much as it is a conversation with a partner. He took a song that was bordering on "corny" and gave it weight. He gave it gravity. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals because he brought in The Chieftains, adding that haunting, Irish folk texture that made it feel ancient and brand new at the same time.
It’s actually kinda funny how different his version feels compared to what came next. Van is gritty. He’s intense. He mumbles in that beautiful, rhythmic way that only he can. He made the song cool again for people who didn't care about 1940s country singers.
Rod Stewart and the Charts
You can't talk about this song without Rod. Honestly, his 1993 Unplugged...and Seated version is probably why you’re reading this right now. It was everywhere. It hit the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed on the Adult Contemporary charts for what felt like an eternity.
Rod Stewart has this specific gift. He can take a classic and make it feel like he wrote it in his backyard yesterday. His version is warmer than Van’s. It’s more accessible. While Van was reaching for the heavens, Rod was looking right at the audience with a wink. He leaned into the sentimentality.
Critics sometimes give Rod a hard time for being "too commercial," but look at the impact. He took a song that was already nearly 50 years old and turned it into a definitive 90s anthem. That is not easy to do.
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Why Does It Still Work?
Why do we keep coming back to this specific string of words?
- The Vulnerability. Most love songs are about the "chase" or the "heartbreak." This song is about the middle. It’s about the long-term relationship where you realize you’ve been quiet too long.
- The Simplicity. There are no complex metaphors. It’s not trying to be poetic for the sake of being poetic. It’s a direct statement.
- The Melody. Whether it's the country twang of the 40s or the strings of the 90s, the melody is incredibly "sticky." Once it’s in your head, it’s there for the day.
The Misconceptions and the Messy Credits
A common mistake people make is thinking Elvis Presley wrote it. He didn't. He did record a version of it for his album Loving You in 1957, and it’s actually a very underrated, tender performance. But because Elvis is Elvis, his name often gets tangled up in the "who wrote it" search results.
Another weird bit of trivia? The song title is often confused with "Have I Told You Lately," which is technically the correct title for Van Morrison’s version, whereas the 1945 original used the full phrase. It’s a subtle difference, but it matters to the hardcore music nerds and the royalty collectors.
The Cultural Longevity
We see this song pop up in movies like One Fine Day or in countless TV wedding scenes. It has become a sort of shorthand for "everything is going to be okay." But if you actually listen to the lyrics, there's a bit of sadness there. The narrator mentions "filling my heart with gladness" and "taking away all my sadness." It implies that without this person, things are pretty dark. It’s a song about rescue.
The song has been covered by everyone from Kenny Rogers to Michael Bublé to even the band Hinder. It crosses genres because the sentiment doesn't belong to any one style. You can play it on a banjo or a grand piano and it still makes sense.
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Notable Versions to Check Out:
- Elvis Presley (1957): For a young, soft, pre-Vegas Elvis.
- The Chieftains & Van Morrison (1991): If you want to hear the Irish soul version that feels like a foggy morning in Dublin.
- Barry Manilow (2006): For the pure, unapologetic Broadway-style drama.
- Emilio Navaira: A great Tejano version that shows how the song translates across cultures.
Navigating the Legacy
If you're a musician looking to cover this, or just a fan trying to understand its place in history, you have to respect the evolution. You can't just copy Rod Stewart. You have to decide: are you singing to a person, or are you singing to the universe? That’s the choice the song forces you to make.
The legacy of Have I Told You Lately I Love You isn't just that it's a "hit." It's that it bridges the gap between the Greatest Generation and Gen Z. It’s one of the few songs that your grandmother and your teenage niece might both actually know the words to. That kind of staying power is incredibly rare in an industry that usually throws things away after six months.
Practical Insights for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate the craftsmanship of the song, don't just listen to the radio edits. Dig into the live versions.
Start by listening to the original 1945 recording by Lulu Belle and Scotty. Notice the tempo. It’s much faster than the versions we’re used to now. Then, immediately jump to Van Morrison’s live performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The contrast is jarring, but it shows you the "elasticity" of a truly great composition.
For those using this for a wedding or a special event, the Rod Stewart version is the safest bet for a crowd-pleaser, but the Van Morrison version carries more emotional weight for a first dance. Just make sure you specify which one you want to the DJ, or you might end up with a very different vibe than you intended.
Ultimately, the song serves as a reminder. It’s a nudge to say the things we assume people already know. It’s about the power of verbalizing affection. That’s a theme that will never go out of style, no matter who is singing it or what year it is.