About the Song
“It Must Be Love” by Don Williams is a warm, easygoing love song that wraps listeners in the gentle charm that defined his legendary career. Released in 1979 as the second single from his album Expressions, the song went on to become a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and remains one of his most recognizable and beloved recordings. With its laid-back groove, clever lyrics, and comforting vocal delivery, the song captures the sweet bewilderment of falling in love with timeless simplicity.
Lyrically, “It Must Be Love” walks the line between humor and heart. The narrator finds himself doing things he never expected—“I fall like a sparrow, fly like a dove”—and concludes, with a hint of awe, that this strange new feeling must be love. The lyrics are clever without being flashy, tender without being sentimental. It’s that gentle observational honesty that made Don Williams such a master of musical storytelling.
His signature baritone voice, smooth as worn leather and warm as a summer breeze, gives the song its enduring appeal. He delivers each line with effortless sincerity, never overreaching, never rushing. Don Williams didn’t just sing about love—he sounded like love itself: calm, steady, and sure.
Musically, the arrangement is classic late-‘70s country-pop, with soft acoustic guitar, understated drums, light piano, and pedal steel accents that shimmer just enough to give the song emotional texture. The production is clean and unpretentious, reflecting Williams’s natural approach to music—nothing forced, everything exactly where it needs to be.
Though many artists have covered the song—most notably Alan Jackson in 2000—Don Williams’s version remains definitive. It’s a perfect reflection of his artistry: genuine, relaxed, and effortlessly resonant. He didn’t need vocal gymnastics or dramatic production—he just told the truth with melody and heart.