‘Do Ya’ is a song written by Jeff Lynne, that was originally recorded by The Move, which became a hit for the Electric Light Orchestra (led by Lynne, ELO originally being a side project of The Move) in 1977. The song was originally released in the UK and USA on October 1976 on the A New World Record album. It was not released as a single in the UK. However, it was the second single release from the album and ELO's tenth single release in the USA, being released in February 1977.
As the Electric Light Orchestra version of Do Ya was not a single in the UK, it had no chart success. In the USA, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 on February 5, 1977, spent 12 weeks on the chart and peaked at #24 on April 2, 1977. It was ELO's seventh Billboard chart single. Also in the USA, it entered the Cash Box Top 100 on February 5, 1977, spent 14 weeks on the chart and peaked at #16 on April 2, 1977.
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) began to perform ‘Do Ya’ live with Lynne on lead vocals from 1973 to 1975, and also integrated its riff into live versions of ‘10538 Overture’ as heard on their 1974 album The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach. They recorded it in the studio for inclusion on the 1976 album A New World Record. In a 1978 interview for Australian radio stations 2SM and 3XY, Bev Bevan stated the reason for the re-recording was that, after ELO had added the song to their live performances, a music journalist asked the band their opinion of "the original version" by Todd Rundgren. (Utopia, a band Rundgren started in 1974, had been performing ‘Do Ya’ in concert, and included a live recording on the 1975 Another Live.) Bevan said they decided to re-record it as ELO in order to "let everyone know that it's a Jeff Lynne song."
According to Billboard it has "an irresistibly catchy melody line and syncopated beat." Cash Box wrote that it was "a smash for the Move and that this arrangement treats the classic with all the respect it demands." Record World said that ELO "embellished the song with a lavish production." Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's seventh best song, writing that it features one of rock's all-time greatest guitar riffs."
Something Else! critic S. Victor Aaron said that "ELO had never rocked harder" and that "By this time, Lynne had achieved complete mastery of the delicate balance between rock and orchestral arrangements, and even the heavy presence of strings didn’t do anything to take away from the song’s raw, cocksure bent, with Lynne growling and boasting to his target for affections about all the things he’s seen 'but never seen nuttin’ like you.'"
Labels – United Artists (US), Harvest (UK)
Songwriter – Jeff Lynne
Producers – Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Well
[Verse 1]
In this life, I've seen everything I can see, woman
I've seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
I've seen babies dancing in the midnight sun
And I've seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
I've seen old men crying at their own grave sides
And I've seen pigs all sitting watching picture slides
But I never seen nothin' like you
[Chorus]
Do ya, do ya want my love? (Woman)
Do ya, do ya want my face? (I need it)
Do ya, do ya want my mind? (I'm sayin')
Do ya, do ya want my love?
[Verse 2]
Well I heard the crowd singin' out of tune
As they sat and sang 'Auld Lang Syne' by the light of the moon
I heard the preacher bangin' on the drums
And I heard the police playin' with their guns
But I never heard nothing like you
{Bridge}
In the country where the sky touches down on the field
She lay her down to rest in the morning sun
They come a runnin' just to get a look
Just to feel, to touch her long black hair
They don't give a damn
[Bridge]
But I never seen nothin' like you
[Chorus]
Do ya, do ya want my love? (Woman)
Do ya, do ya want my face? (I need it)
Do ya, do ya want my mind? (I'm sayin')
Do ya, do ya want my love?
[Verse 3]
Well, I think you know what I'm trying to say, woman
That is, I'd like to save you for a rainy day
I've seen enough of the world to know
That I've got to get it all to get it all to grow
[Chorus]
Do ya, do ya want my love? (Come on now)
Do ya, do ya want my face? (I need it)
Do ya, do ya want my mind? (Alright now)
Do ya, do ya want my blood?
[Outro]
Oh, look out
Do ya, do ya want my love?
Do ya, do ya want my love?
Oh-oh