Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you outstanding songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora perform a beautiful acoustic version of "Diamond Ring," a ballad they co-wrote with Desmond Child in 1988.
Featuring romantic lyrics, soaring harmonies and a memorable acoustic guitar solo by Sambora, "Diamond Ring" tells the story of a man who is head-over-heels in love and wants the world to know. The song's title symbolizes the ultimate commitment from a man who wants to be her "everything."
They sing, "Diamond ring, wear it on your hand / It's gonna tell the world, I'm your only man / Diamond ring, diamond ring / Baby, you're my everything, diamond ring."
During a 1995 concert, Bon Jovi told fans that "Diamond Ring" was one of his favorite collaborations with Sambora, but also recounted how it was the only song the duo ever "rewrote and rewrote and rewrote." "Diamond Ring" was originally intended to be released on the group's 1988 album New Jersey, but didn't quite make it. Then it was reworked and recorded to appear on 1992's Keep the Faith. Again, it didn't quite make it. Finally, the song was perfected and released as the 14th track of 1995's These Days.
Despite its official release in 1995, "Diamond Ring" was played live six times during Bon Jovi's "New Jersey Syndicate Tour," which ran from October 1988 to February 1990.
Many critics and fans believe These Days is Bon Jovi's best album. It charted in 21 countries, including #1 spots in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album sold more than one million copies in the U.S., peaking at #9 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Bon Jovi formed the group that bears his name in 1983. Over the past 34-plus years, Bon Jovi has sold more than 100 million records and performed more than 2,700 concerts in 50 countries. Bon Jovi and Sambora were inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Please check out Bon Jovi and Sambora wowing a live audience during an inspired performance of "Diamond Ring." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"Diamond Ring"
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child and Richard Sambora. Performed by Jon Bon Jovi and Richard Sambora.
Diamond ring, wear it on your hand
It's gonna tell the world, I'm your only man
Diamond ring, diamond ring
Baby, you're my everything, diamond ring
Red, red rose brought it home to you
Blood red rose, tells me that you're true
Red, red rose, blood-red rose
Like a fire inside that grows, blood-red rose
When you're hungry, I will fill you up
When you're thirsty, drink out of my loving cup
When you're crying, I'll be the tears for you
There's nothing that I wouldn't do for you
When you're hungry, I will fill you up
When you're thirsty, drink out of my loving cup
When you're crying, I'll be the tears for you
There's nothing that I wouldn't do for you
You know, I bleed every night you sleep
'Cause I don't know if I'm in your dreams
I want to be your everything...
Diamond ring, wear it on your hand
It's gonna tell the world, I'm your only man
Diamond ring, diamond ring
Baby, you're my everything, diamond ring
Darling, you're my everything, diamond ring
Now, you've got me on your string... Diamond ring
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.
