The song takes its title from a phrase that originates from Shakespeare'sTwelfth Night (1601) and later appearsMacbeth (1606).[3]
The song plays an important role in the film. After Christian and Satine's forbidden, strong, and close romantic relationship has been discovered, Christian pens this song and includes it in the musical he is currently writing. Each time either of them sings this song, they can secretly declare their equally deep and true romantic love for each other.
The version of the song on thesoundtrack album differs slightly from the version in the film. The lyrics "Every day I love you more and more" and "Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing/Telling me to give you everything" are part of the song on the soundtrack version. However, in the movie, they are replaced by a musicalinterlude the first time and, the second time, Satine sings instead of the latter part, "Come back to me and forgive everything." The single version can be found on theoriginal soundtrack, while the original film version can be found on thefollow-up soundtrack.
It was released as a single inAustralia where it became the eighth highest-selling single by an Australian artist of 2001.[4] It was also released in Germany,[5] and the UK, where it charted at #27.[6]
Luke Evans featuringCharlotte Church released a version as a single on 14 October 2022, taken from Evans' second studio album,A Song for You.[16]
The song is featured in the original recording of the 2018jukebox musicalMoulin Rouge!, performed by stage actorsAaron Tveit andKaren Olivo, who played Christian and Satine, respectively, in the Broadway production.
The song is performed as a duet by Siôn Daniel Young andFra Fee in Duck Soup Films' limited seriesLost Boys and Fairies, episode 2, entitled "With or Without You."[17]
