Cliff Richard almost let go of this heartbreaking ballad… until thousands begged him to bring it back.
“I felt so empty… I couldn’t bear to sing it in front of anyone.”
That’s how Cliff Richard described “Ocean Deep” — a song fans now beg for at nearly every concert, but which he once considered too painful to perform.
A love song so lonely, even the singer couldn’t face it
Released in 1983, Ocean Deep was originally tucked quietly into the Silver album — not a lead single, no major push. But somehow, it found its way to people’s hearts — not because of fame, but because it felt real.
Cliff admitted he was going through a deeply emotional time during its recording.
“There was a sadness I couldn’t explain to anyone,” he said.
And when he sang those lyrics, it felt too personal — like opening a wound.
The fans asked. He stayed silent.
For years, Cliff avoided the song in live shows. But eventually, as chants of “Ocean Deep!” grew louder and more insistent, he gave in — singing just the opening lines before breaking down in tears.
It wasn’t just a song. It was a mirror — showing him who he once was, and how deeply he once hurt.
He once avoided it out of pain… and returned to it out of connection
Today, he says: “Ocean Deep doesn’t belong to me anymore. It belongs to those who’ve ever felt forgotten in the middle of the sea.”
🎵 Suggested listening: Ocean Deep – Cliff Richard
If you’ve ever felt quietly adrift in your own heart — this song already knows.
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