An Enduring Echo of First Heartbreak
“When I Think of You” is a tender, wistful ballad that perfectly captures the bittersweet ache of a love that has ended, but whose memory refuses to fade.
There was a time, a fleeting, sun-drenched moment in the late 1970s, when a certain kind of teen idol reigned supreme. Their faces graced the covers of every magazine, their posters adorned the bedroom walls of millions of young girls, and their songs served as the soundtrack to a generation’s first crushes and heartbreaks. In that era of roller skates, bell-bottoms, and disco-tinged pop, few figures were more emblematic of the phenomenon than Leif Garrett. His tousled blond hair and cherubic smile were a constant presence, and while he was known for up-tempo, danceable hits, it was often his softer, more contemplative songs that resonated deepest, clinging to the soul like a cherished memory.
One such song was the poignant ballad “When I Think of You.” Released in August 1979 as a single from his second studio album, Feel the Need, it presented a different side of the pop star. While the album itself was a solid pop-rock effort, featuring his well-known track “I Was Made for Dancin’,” it was this lesser-known track that offered a moment of quiet reflection amidst the youthful exuberance. Penned by songwriter James Williams, the song wasn’t a massive smash, but it found its audience. It peaked at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100, a respectable showing for a ballad at the time, and performed even better on the US Adult Contemporary chart, reaching a noteworthy #11. This latter achievement speaks volumes about the song’s enduring appeal, showing that its emotional depth struck a chord with a more mature audience beyond just his teenage fanbase.
The story behind the song is a simple one, yet universally relatable. It’s not about grand, operatic drama, but rather the quiet moments of longing that follow a breakup. The lyrics describe a person waiting, reminiscing about the happiness of a past summer love. The narrator sees reminders of their lost love everywhere—a specific melody, a familiar street, a favorite place. These seemingly insignificant triggers bring a flood of memories rushing back, all of them beautiful, all of them tinged with sadness. The song’s beauty lies in its unadorned honesty, its straightforward portrayal of a feeling we’ve all experienced: the thought of someone who is no longer in your life, but who still holds a permanent place in your heart. It’s the kind of song that could make a room full of people fall silent, each person lost in their own nostalgic reverie, recalling a time when the world was a little more innocent and heartbreak felt like the most important thing in the world.
The music itself, with its sweeping strings and gentle rhythm, perfectly complements the reflective lyrics. It’s a classic late-70s ballad—clean, melodic, and filled with a quiet sense of hope. Leif Garrett’s youthful voice, with its touch of vulnerability, sells the emotion effortlessly. For a generation that had posters of him on their walls, this was the song they could put on after a high school dance, when the party was over and the harsh reality of a recent split set in. It was a comfort in the dark, a gentle reminder that even though the love was gone, the cherished memory of it could still bring a beautiful, if melancholy, feeling. For many, “When I Think of You” wasn’t just another pop song; it was a mirror reflecting their own quiet despair and enduring hope for a love that had slipped away.