No. 1 hit pop ballad written by Terry Kirkman and recorded by the American sunshine pop band The Association. Released as a single from their debut album, And Then... Along Comes the Association, the track reached the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1966, holding the position for three weeks. Key Facts & History • The Songwriting: Terry Kirkman wrote the song in just 30 minutes at his parents' house in Chino, California. He built the lyrics around the word "cherish" after hearing someone use it earlier that night. • The Meaning: Despite its beautifully layered vocal harmonies and frequent use at weddings, "Cherish" is actually a melancholy song about unrequited love. The lyrics express the frustration of a protagonist deeply infatuated with someone who is being pursued by "a thousand other guys". • Radio Editing Trick: The original album version clocks in at 3:25. Because 1960s AM radio programmers preferred songs under three minutes, producer Curt Boettcher sped up the track, cut one of the final refrains, and intentionally mislabeled the record runtime as exactly "3:00" to ensure it got airplay. • Legacy: It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1966. Decades later, BMI named it the 22nd most-played song of the 20th century. #cherish #theassociation - @songs_that_take_us_back