1950s Love Songs: Timeless Hits for a Wedding Playlist
Love songs are what fill dance floors. They bring back memories and invoke a true feeling of love from within. Typically, couples will always dance to slow songs at wedding receptions.
This article is focused on the most popular love songs of the 1950s. I have selected songs that make fantastic first dance songs for wedding couples.
The fifties were the dawn of Rock and Roll. However, the mainstream included Doo-Wop, Rhythm and Blues, Rockabilly, Country, and many vocalists or Jazz artists. Billboard nominated Elvis Presley as the artist of the decade of the Fifties.
Love Songs from the 1950s
A Kiss To Build A Dream On – Louis Armstrong
Released in 1951, Genre: Jazz
A song about a guy wanting a kiss from his lady to hold him over until the next time they see each other.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Give me a kiss to build on and my
Imagination will thrive upon that kiss
All The Way – Frank Sinatra
Released in 1951, Genre: Jazz
A song about going all in on a relationship and putting yourself wholeheartedly in a relationship.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
But if you’ll let me love you
It’s for sure I’m gonna love you, all the way, all the way
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
Released in 1953, Genre: Pop
A song that describes what it’s like when you are in love.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in love
Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) – The Penguins
Released in 1954, Genre: Doo-Wop
A song about being in love with someone and hoping they will love you back.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness
I hope and I pray, that someday
I’ll be the vision, the vision of your happiness
Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
Released in 1955, Genre: R&B
The song is about promising to love and take care of your lover. All they have to do is the same in return.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I’ll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I’ll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Let It Be Me – The Everly Brothers
Released in 1955, Genre: Vocal
A song about a boy who falls in love with a girl and hopes she will love him back.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I bless the day I found you
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you
Let it be me
Only You – The Platters
Released in 1955, Genre: R&B
This is a song about a girl who will make a boy feel complete only if they are together.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true
My one and only you
In The Still of The Night – Five Satins
Released in 1956, Genre: Doo-Wop
A song about a guy who wants to hold his lover tight in the darkness of night.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I’ll hope and I’ll pray
To keep
Your precious love
Well before the light
Love Is Here To Stay – Frank Sinatra
Released in 1956, Genre: Vocal
A song singing about how many couples break up but your love for each other will last forever.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
But oh my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we’re goin’ a long, long way
One in a Million – The Platters
Released in 1956, Genre: R&B
A song describing destiny in finding your one true love.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Though it may be rare, you and I do share
This love that has happened to few
For there’s one in a million like you
Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin
Released in 1956, Genre: Pop
The song shares a love story about a couple from falling in love, to getting married and having kids.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Your lips and mine, two sips of wine
Memories are made of this
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
Released in 1956, Genre: Rock
A song about how if your lover loves you you will show it in return forever and your dreams will come true.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Love me tender, love me long
Take me to your heart
For it’s there that I belong
And we’ll never part
When I Fall In Love – Nat King Cole
Released in 1956, Genre: R&B
A song about making a commitment to love your lover forever.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
When I give my heart it will be completely
Or I’ll never give my heart
And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you
You Send Me – Sam Cooke
Released in 1957, Genre: R&B
A song about a love relationship going from liking someone to falling in love and wanting to get married.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home
The Twelfth of Never – Johnny Mathis
Released in 1957, Genre: Country
A song about a man answering the question of how long he will love his lover and replying that the time will never come.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
I’ll love you ’til the poets run out of rhyme
Until the Twelfth of Never and that’s a long, long time
Chances Are – Johnny Mathis
Released in 1957, Genre: Country
A song about a girl wondering how long her lover will love her and he responds with forever.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
The moment you come into view
Chances are you think that I’m in love with you
To Know Him is To Love Him – The Teddy Bears
Released in 1958, Genre: Pop
A song about a lady who is in love and wants to stand by her man and love him.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Yes, just to know him
Is to love love love him
And I do
To Be Loved – Jackie Wilson
Released in 1958, Genre: R&B
A song about how someone loving you takes away your despair and loneliness.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
To be loved (to be loved)
Oh what a feeling
To be loved
For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler & the Impressions
Released in 1958, Genre: R&B
A song about a couple in love and that it will grow stronger through time.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
And of all the things that I want,
In this whole wide world, is
Just for you to say that you’ll be my girl
I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
Released in 1959, Genre: R&B
A song about not wanting anyone else but your one true love.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
This I Swear – The Skyliners
Released in 1959, Genre: Doo-Wop
A song about promising to love your lover for all of your life.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
My love for you will last
Till time itself is through
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
This I swear is true
Come Rain or Come Shine – Ray Charles
Released in 1959, Genre: Blues
A song about wanting to love someone through the ups and downs of life’s journey.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
You’re gonna love me
Like no one’s loved me
Come rain or come shine
Never Be Anyone Else But You – Ricky Nelson
Released in 1959, Genre: Rock
A song about finding your one true love and telling them that no one else will make you happy.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
There’ll never be anyone else
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn’t be
Anyone else but you
We Belong Together – Ritchie Valens
Released in 1959, Genre: Rock
A song about a man vowing to love his lover for eternity as they were meant to be together.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
You’re mine
And we belong together
Yes, we belong together
For eternity
Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
Released in 1959, Genre: Doo-Wop
A song about a special dance in which the couple will be beginning their love story.
Lyrics To Inspire You:
Won’t you kiss me once, baby?
Just a kiss goodnight, maybe
You and I will fall in love (you and I will fall in love)
Do you have a favorite 50s love song? Please share your song below in the comments!
Tip
If you are looking for a complete list of the best wedding songs from the 1950s, please visit a list of the popular hits of the 1950s.
Other Playlists To Check Out:
I graduated in 1960. I recognize most of the songs yin your lists. They were popular on the radio, but I never heard any of them sung at a wedding—a reception maybe, although most people I knew didn’t have receptions with DJs. In fact most middle-class Protestants in our part of the country had cake & punch in the church basement. One solo I heard in every wedding was “Always”-maybe a hold-over from the 40s. I was looking for another we considered “classic” but wasn’t in any of your lists
Thanks, Judy for the feedback. I appreciate your insights. My song lists are trying to showcase songs that would be played today rather than songs that were played at weddings in the 50s. I will be updating the song lists over the next few months to make them more helpful and make this more clear when to play the songs during today’s weddings. Best of luck looking for your song! Matt
Hi I’m looking to find a first dance song from the 50s or 60s that starts of as a slow dance and goes into jive. do you have any ideas that would suit my rock n roll themed wedding? thank you!
Hi Beverly, sorry, I am not familiar with the song you are trying to find.
Can you buy a disc of the top 18 1950’s love songs?
I am not aware of one. I would recommend creating your own through iTunes.
I remember a listening to a slow song in the 60’s when I was pre teen. Can’t find any info on-line. I only remember that some of the lyrics went something like this: “Where were you right after I fell, and I just couldn’t help myself……….????? Do you remember or know the title and/ or performer? THANKS
Hi David. Sorry, I am not familiar with the song. Possibly a reader will know and reply?