A lush, deeply soulful declaration that true love is the light that rescues the lonely heart from darkness.
There are certain songs that, when the first piano chord rings out, instantly transport you back to a specific time—a time of flared jeans, family television specials, and the undeniable harmony of the Osmonds. But set aside for a moment the teen idol image and the bubblegum sound that made them household names. When you listen to “I Can See Love In You And Me,” you hear something deeper, a sophisticated, R&B-infused ballad that captured the emotional maturity the brothers were striving for in the mid-1970s.
Released in 1974, this track was the B-side to their massive hit, “Love Me For a Reason,” which itself soared to No. 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart for three weeks and reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. While the A-side took all the glory, the reflective beauty of “I Can See Love In You And Me”—often relegated to the back of the single in those vinyl days—deserves its own spotlight. It appeared on their 1974 album, Love Me for a Reason, and served as a powerful testament to the group’s range, showing they were capable of delivering not just infectious pop but genuine soul-drenched balladry.
The song’s meaning is universal, yet it resonates profoundly with the simple, unwavering faith that underpinned the Osmonds’ public persona. The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely soul stumbling through life, feeling “more dead than alive,” until a transformative love arrives. It speaks of a light being put into the heart, freeing a mind that was once “going blind.” It is an intensely romantic song, yet when delivered by the resonant, sincere voice of lead singer Merrill Osmond, the metaphor takes on an almost spiritual weight. It is the purest expression of how finding a kindred soul doesn’t just fill a void; it radically changes one’s entire perception of the world—like suddenly being able to see clearly after a lifetime in the dark.
For those of us who came of age during the tumultuous 70s, The Osmonds often provided a clean, earnest counterpoint to the more rebellious acts of the time. But it’s on tracks like this that you realize the incredible musical talent beneath the clean-cut surface. Forget the Donny pin-ups; listen to the arrangement here. The layered vocals are immaculate, and the musical backing leans into a soulful, almost Motown-esque sophistication that proves their appreciation for deep R&B influences.
What makes this song special, even all these decades later, is that it avoids the saccharine fate of some other teen idol fare. The warmth, the vulnerability, and the expansive sound are all built on the bedrock of a simple, beautiful truth: that connection is salvation. It is a song that evokes the memory of quiet, hopeful moments—of dancing with your sweetheart in a dimly lit room, or simply feeling the profound, life-altering relief of no longer being lonely. It reminds us that in the midst of all the disco flash and rock and roll fury, there was still room for a gentle, heartfelt declaration of love’s illuminating power. It is a moment of pure, unvarnished hope delivered by a family who specialized in bringing sunshine into our homes.