‘Livin' Thing’ is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It appears on ELO's 1976 album A New World Record and was also released as a single. The song reached the top ten in music charts in many countries in 1976, including the U.S., UK and Australia.
There has been lots of speculation as to what this song is about, with a popular rumor being that it is an anti-abortion statement. ELO frontman Jeff Lynne has said it is simply about the loss of love, although its initial inspiration was a bout of food poisoning. He let that slip in a talk with Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 2014. "You'll never be able to listen to it the same again," he said. "I wouldn't want anyone to think it's about a bad paella on a Spanish holiday." Jeff Lynne also said, “I was even asked once if it was about a whale, Christ knows where that came from. It was just a song about nothing more than lost love….the words just rhymed, that all.”
The song features uncredited vocals by Patti Quatro (sister of Suzi Quatro), Brie Brandt, and Addie Lee, who were all one-time members of the female rock group Fanny. According to Suzi Quatro's autobiography the trio sang the "higher and higher" parts.
Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn called it an "extremely catchy record that has all the vocal and instrumental hooks to keep you listening." Billboard said that it "moves through a dark U.K. rock distillation into a soaring, ethereal chorale and a return to the minor-key mode. Cash Box said that "a diabolical arrangement hits hard along with some ever-ready harmonies which sew this record up into sure hit potential." Record World called it a "Jeff Lynne masterwork" and said that "a savory rock sound makes it happen."
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's 2nd best song, specifically praising the "string-solo opening, soulful backing vocals, synth waves occasionally crashing into the chorus and a gigantic hook." Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as ELO's 6th best song. Stereogum contributor Ryan Reed rated it as ELO's 5th best song, saying that "From the dramatic classical opening, incorporating pizzicato strings, to the extended chorus fade-out, this one’s pure pop pleasure." In August 2006, ‘Livin' Thing’ was named by the UK's Q as the number 1 "Guilty Pleasure" single of all time – a list designed to celebrate "uncool" but excellent records, and which received considerable publicity
Labels – Jet-United Artists (UK), United Artists (US)
Songwriter – Jeff Lynne
Producer – Jeff Lynne
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Sailin' away
On the crest of a wave
It's like magic
Oh, rollin' and ridin'
And slippin' and slidin'
It's magic
[Pre-Chorus]
And you and your sweet desire
You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby
[Chorus]
It's a livin' thing
It's a terrible thing to lose
It's a given thing
What a terrible thing to lose
[Post-Chorus]
(I'm taking a dive, dive!)
[Verse 2]
Making believe
This is what you conceived
From your worst day (I'm taking a dive)
Oh, moving in line
Then you look back in time
To the first day (I'm taking, I'm taking)
[Pre-Chorus]
And you and your sweet desire (Don't you do it, don't you do it)
You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby
[Chorus]
It's a livin' thing
It's a terrible thing to lose
It's a given thing
What a terrible thing to lose
[Post-Chorus]
(I'm taking a dive, on the slide, hey!)
[Verse 3]
Takin' a dive
'Cause you can't halt the slide
Floating downstream (I'm taking a dive)
Oh, so let her go
Don't start spoiling the show
It's a bad dream (I'm taking, I'm taking)
[Pre-Chorus]
And you and your sweet desire (Don't you do it, don't you do it)
You took me, oh, higher and higher, baby
[Chorus]
It's a livin' thing
It's a terrible thing to lose
It's a given thing
What a terrible thing to lose
It's a livin' thing
It's a terrible thing to lose
It's a given thing
What a terrible thing to lose