“Always on My Mind” is a synth-pop cover by the British duo Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe), released on November 30, 1987, which became the UK Christmas Number One single of that year. The original song was written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, and was first recorded by Gwen McCrae and Brenda Lee in 1972 before becoming a global hit for Elvis Presley and later Willie Nelson.
The Pet Shop Boys’ version originated from their performance on the ITV special Love Me Tender, which commemorated the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Although the duo initially viewed the performance as a one-off tribute, the overwhelmingly positive public response compelled them to record and release the track as a single, marking their first cover song and their third UK Number One hit.
[Verse 1]
Maybe I didn’t treat you
Quite as good as I should
Maybe I didn’t love you
Quite as often as I could
[Pre-Chorus]
Little things I should have said and done
I never took the time
[Chorus]
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
[Verse 2]
Maybe I didn’t hold you
All those lonely lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I’m so happy that you’re mine
[Pre-Chorus]
If I made you feel second best
I’m so sorry I was blind
[Chorus]
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
[Post-Chorus]
Tell me
Tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died
Give me
One more chance to keep you satisfied
Satisfied
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Pre-Chorus]
Little things I should have said and done
I never took the time
[Chorus]
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
[Post-Chorus]
Tell me
Tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died
Give me
One more chance to keep you satisfied
[Chorus]
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
[Outro]
Maybe I didn’t treat you quite as good as I should
Maybe I didn’t love you quite as often as I could
Maybe I didn’t hold you all those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you, I’m so happy that you’re mine
(Maybe I didn’t love you…)
