The Twelfth of Never

1956 song by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster

This article is about the Johnny Mathis song. For the idiom, see List of idioms of improbability. For the James Patterson novel, see 12th of Never (novel).

"The Twelfth of Never"

US 7-inch single picture sleeve

Single by Johnny Mathis
from the album  Johnny's Greatest Hits
A-side| "Chances Are"
Released| 12 August 1957
Studio| Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
Genre| Pop
Length| 2:25
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster
Johnny Mathis singles chronology
| "It's Not for Me to Say"
(1957)  | "The Twelfth of Never"
(1957)  | "Wild Is the Wind"
(1957)

|
|

"The Twelfth of Never"

Single by Cliff Richard
B-side| "I'm Afraid to Go Home"
Released| 2 October 1964
Recorded| 23 June 1964 (1964-06-23)
Studio| Abbey Road
Genre| Pop
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster
Producer(s)| Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
| "On the Beach"
(1964)  | "The Twelfth of Never"
(1964)  | "I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You)"
(1964)

|
|

"The Twelfth of Never"

Single by Donny Osmond
from the album  Alone Together
B-side| "Life Is Just What You Make It"
Released| February 24, 1973
Recorded| November 27, 1972
Genre| Pop
Length| 2:40
Label| MGM Records 14503
Songwriter(s)| Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster
Donny Osmond singles chronology
| "Why" / "Lonely Boy"
(1972)  | "The Twelfth of Never"
(1973)  | "Young Love" / "A Million to One"
(1973)

|
|

"The Twelfth of Never" is a popular song written in 1956 and first recorded by Johnny Mathis the following year. The title is a popular expression, which is used as the date of a future occurrence that will never come to pass.[1] In the case of the song, "the 12th of Never" is given as the date on which the singer will stop loving his beloved, thus indicating that he will always love him or her.

Mathis initially disliked the song, which was released as the flip side to his number 1 hit single "Chances Are".[2]

It was written by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster, the tune (except for the bridge) being adapted from "The Riddle Song" (also known as "I Gave My Love a Cherry"), an old English folk song. Mathis's original version reached number 9 on what is now called the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA in 1957.[3] A version by Cliff Richard was released in 1964 and reached number 8 in the UK.[4] Donny Osmond's version, produced by Mike Curb and Don Costa, was his second number 1 single in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the UK Singles Chart in March 1973.[5] In the U.S. it peaked at number 8.[6]

## Chart performance

[edit]

Johnny Mathis original

Chart (1957–58)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 9
Australia (Sydney, Australia)[8] | 2

Cliff Richard version

Chart (1964–65)  | Peak
position

|

UK Singles (OCC)[9] | 8
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 6
Hong Kong[11] | 5
Ireland (IRMA)[12][13] | 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 13
Malaysia[15] | 3
Norway (VG-lista)[16] | 9

Donny Osmond version

Chart (1973)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 8
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10][18] | 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] | 14
Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] | 15
Germany (Media Control)[21] | 29
Malaysia[22] | 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] | 12
New Zealand (Listener)[24] | 5
Singapore[25] | 2
UK Singles (OCC)[26] | 1

## Certifications

[edit]

Donny Osmond version
Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[27] | Gold  | 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Notable cover versions

[edit]

* 1963: Nina Simone recorded her version on her album Folksy Nina.
* 1970: Tammy Wynette recorded her version on her album The Ways to Love a Man.
* 1977ː David Houston on his album David Houston (single, reached #98 on US Billboard Country chart)
* 1989: Olivia Newton-John on her 1989 album Warm and Tender.
* 1993: Jeff Buckley: performed and recorded at his live performance and album Live at Sin-é
* 1995: Elvis Presley: a rehearsal recorded in 1974 was released as a single and reached #21 in the UK.
* 2005: Dolly Parton and Keith Urban on Parton's album Those Were the Days
* 2018: Jan Rot did a version in Dutch on his album Magistraal, the non-existing date translated as '30 Februari'.

## References

[edit]

Notes

1. ^ Obert 2015, p. 44.
2. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 23 - Smack Dab in the Middle on Route 66. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
3. ^ Johnny Mathis chart positions at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
4. ^ "Cliff Richard's UK positions". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 284\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
6. ^ Donny Osmond chart positions at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
7. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Johnny Mathis Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
8. ^ Barnes, Jim; Dyer, Fred; Scanes, Stephen (1986). The Book Top 40 Research 1986-1987 Second Edition-Update. Top 40 Research Services, Seven Hills, N.S.W.
9. ^ "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
10. ^ a b Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
11. ^ Billboard (21 November 1964). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 38\. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
12. ^ Billboard (28 November 1964). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 16\. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
13. ^ The Official Charts in Ireland began on October 4, 1962. Chart positions before that are taken from the Evening Herald Chart which was a Top Ten single chart published by the Irish daily newspaper Evening Herald between February 1959 and December 1962. "Ireland singles charts". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
14. ^ (nl) van Slooten, Johan (2005). Top 40 Hitdossier 1965-2005 (inclusief alle 'prehistorische' hits van 1956 to 1965) (in Dutch) (9th ed.). Haarlem: J.H. Gottmer / H.J.W. Becht BV. ISBN 90-230-1144-9.
15. ^ Billboard (6 March 1965). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 22\. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
16. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Twelfth of Never". VG-lista.
17. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Donny Osmond Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
18. ^ Billboard (30 June 1973). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 57. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
19. ^ "Donny Osmond – The Twelfth of Never" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
20. ^ "Denmark singles chart - The Twelfth of Never". danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
21. ^ "Donny Osmond German singles at charts.de". Media Control. Charts.de. Retrieved 2014-06-17.[dead link]
22. ^ Billboard (2 June 1973). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 69. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
23. ^ "Donny Osmond – The Twelfth of Never" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
24. ^ "Flavour of New Zealand, 9 July 1973". Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
25. ^ Billboard (16 June 1973). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 83\. ISSN 0006-2510. `{{cite magazine}}`: Cite magazine requires `|magazine=` (help)
26. ^ "Donny Osmond: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
27. ^ "American single certifications – Donny Osmond – Twelfth of Never". Recording Industry Association of America.

Works cited

* Ewen, David (1977). All the Years of Popular Music. Prentice Hall. p. 539\. ISBN 0-13-022442-1. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
* Obert, Julia C. (2015). Postcolonial Overtures: The Politics of Sound in Contemporary Northern Irish Poetry (reprint ed.). Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815653493. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Johnny Mathis

Studio albums|

* Johnny Mathis
* Wonderful, Wonderful
* Warm
* Good Night, Dear Lord
* Swing Softly
* Merry Christmas
* Open Fire, Two Guitars
* Heavenly
* Faithfully
* Johnny's Mood
* The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway
* I'll Buy You a Star
* Live It Up!
* Rapture
* Johnny
* Sounds of Christmas
* Romantically
* Tender Is the Night
* The Wonderful World of Make Believe
* This Is Love
* Olé
* Broadway
* Love Is Everything
* The Sweetheart Tree
* The Shadow of Your Smile
* So Nice
* Johnny Mathis Sings
* Up, Up and Away
* Love Is Blue
* Those Were the Days
* Love Theme from "Romeo And Juliet" (A Time for Us)
* Give Me Your Love for Christmas
* Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
* Close to You
* Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert
* Love Story
* You've Got a Friend
* The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)
* Song Sung Blue
* Me and Mrs. Jones
* Killing Me Softly with Her Song
* I'm Coming Home
* The Heart of a Woman
* When Will I See You Again
* Feelings
* I Only Have Eyes for You
* Mathis Is...
* Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
* You Light Up My Life
* That's What Friends Are For
* The Best Days of My Life
* Mathis Magic
* Different Kinda Different
* I Love My Lady
* Friends in Love
* A Special Part of Me
* Right from the Heart
* Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis
* The Hollywood Musicals
* Once in a While
* In the Still of the Night
* In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington
* How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
* All About Love
* Because You Loved Me: The Songs of Diane Warren
* Mathis on Broadway
* The Christmas Album
* Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album
* A Night to Remember
* Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville
* Sending You a Little Christmas
* Johnny Mathis Sings the Great New American Songbook

Compilation albums|

* Johnny's Greatest Hits
* More Johnny's Greatest Hits
* Portrait of Johnny
* Johnny's Newest Hits
* I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
* The Great Years
* People
* The Impossible Dream
* Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits
* Johnny Mathis Sings the Great Songs
* The Johnny Mathis Collection
* The Mathis Collection
* Tears and Laughter
* The Best of Johnny Mathis 1975–1980
* The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album
* Celebration – The Anniversary Album
* 16 Most Requested Songs
* Better Together: The Duet Album
* The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection
* The Hits of Johnny Mathis
* The Ultimate Hits Collection
* The Essential Johnny Mathis
* The Very Best of Johnny Mathis
* Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration
* Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
* The Ultimate Collection
* The Classic Christmas Album

Live albums|

* Johnny Mathis in Person: Recorded Live at Las Vegas
* Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole
* Live

Box sets|

* The Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection
* The Complete Global Albums Collection
* The Singles
* The Complete Christmas Collection 1958–2010
* The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection

Singles|

* "Wonderful! Wonderful!"
* "It's Not for Me to Say"
* "Chances Are"
* "The Twelfth of Never"
* "Wild Is the Wind"
* "A Certain Smile"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "Misty"
* "Gina
* "What Will Mary Say"
* "Beyond the Blue Horizon"
* "Remember When (We Made These Memories)"
* "Love Me Tonight"
* "Odds and Ends"
* "I'm Coming Home"
* "Life Is a Song Worth Singing"
* "When a Child Is Born"
* "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"
* "You're All I Need to Get By"

Other Songs|

* "Love Never Felt So Good"

Videos|

* Live by Request: Johnny Mathis
* Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful!

Related articles|

* Discography
* Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
* Family Ties
* Deniece Williams

* v
* t
* e

Oliver

Studio albums|

* Good Morning Starshine
* Again
* The Best of Oliver
* Prisms

Singles|

* "Good Morning Starshine"
* "Jean"
* "Sunday Mornin'"

Cover Songs|

* "Both Sides Now"
* "If You Go Away"
* "In My Life"
* "Leaving on a Jet Plane"
* "Ruby Tuesday"
* "The Twelfth of Never"
* "Until It's Time for You to Go"
* "Where Is Love?"

* v
* t
* e

Cliff Richard

Albums (UK)|

| 1950s:|

* Cliff (1959, live)
* Cliff Sings (1959)

|

1960s:|

* Me and My Shadows (1960)
* Listen to Cliff! (1961)
* 21 Today (1961)
* 32 Minutes and 17 Seconds (1962)
* The Young Ones (1962, soundtrack)
* Summer Holiday (1963, soundtrack)
* When in Spain (1963)
* Wonderful Life (1964, soundtrack)
* Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1964, cast album)
* Cliff Richard (1965)
* When in Rome (1965)
* Love Is Forever (1965)
* Kinda Latin (1966)
* Finders Keepers (1966, soundtrack)
* Cinderella (1967, cast album)
* Don't Stop Me Now! (1967)
* Two a Penny (1968, soundtrack)
* Sincerely (1969)

1970s:|

* Tracks 'n Grooves (1970)
* Take Me High (1974, soundtrack)
* I'm Nearly Famous (1976)
* Every Face Tells a Story (1977)
* Small Corners (1978, gospel)
* Green Light (1978)
* Thank You Very Much (1979, live)
* Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile (1979)

1980s:|

* I'm No Hero (1980)
* Wired for Sound (1981)
* Now You See Me, Now You Don't (1982, gospel)
* Dressed for the Occasion (1983, live)
* Silver (1983)
* The Rock Connection (1984)
* Always Guaranteed (1987)
* Stronger (1989)

1990s:|

* From a Distance: The Event (1990, live)
* Together with Cliff Richard (1991)
* The Album (1993)
* Songs from Heathcliff (1995, stage show album)
* Real as I Wanna Be (1998)

2000s:|

* Wanted (2001)
* Cliff at Christmas (2003)
* Something's Goin' On (2004)
* Two's Company (2006)
* Love... The Album (2007)
* Reunited – Cliff Richard and The Shadows (2009)

2010s:|

* Bold as Brass (2010)
* Soulicious (2011)
* The Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook (2013)
* Just... Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll (2016)
* Rise Up (2018)

2020s:|

* Music... The Air That I Breathe (2020)
* Christmas with Cliff (2022)
* Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life (2023)

EPs (UK)|

* Serious Charge (1959)
* Expresso Bongo (1960)
* Cliff's Silver Discs (1960)
* Dream (1961)
* Hits from the Young Ones (1962)

Compilations (UK)|

* Cliff's Hit Album (1963)
* 40 Golden Greats (1977)
* Love Songs (1981)
* Walking in the Light (1984, Gospel)
* Private Collection: 1979–1988 (1988)
* The Hit List (1994)
* At the Movies 1959–1974 (1996)
* The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits (2000)
* The Platinum Collection (2005)
* And They Said It Wouldn't Last: My 50 Years in Music (2008)
* The 50th Anniversary Album (2008)
* 75 at 75 (2015)
* Stronger Thru the Years (2017)

Related articles|

* Albums discography
* Singles discography
* Videography
* The Shadows

* v
* t
* e

Cliff Richard singles

1950s|

* "Move It" (1958)
* "High Class Baby" (1958)
* "Livin' Lovin' Doll" (1959)
* "Mean Streak" (1959)
* "Living Doll" (1959)
* "Travellin' Light" / "Dynamite" (1959)

1960s|

* "A Voice in the Wilderness" (1960)
* "Fall in Love with You" (1960)
* "Please Don't Tease" (1960)
* "Nine Times Out of Ten" (1960)
* "I Love You" (1960)
* "Theme for a Dream" (1961)
* "Gee Whizz It's You" (1961)
* "A Girl Like You" (1961)
* "What'd I Say" (1961)
* "When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" (1961)
* "Forty Days" (1961)
* "Outsider" (1962)
* "The Young Ones" / "We Say Yeah" (1962)
* "Catch Me" (1962)
* "I'm Looking out the Window" / "Do You Want to Dance?" (1962)
* "Lessons in Love" (1962)
* "It'll Be Me" (1962)
* "Wonderful to Be Young" (1962)
* "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" (1962)
* "Summer Holiday" (1963)
* "Lucky Lips" (1963)
* "It's All in the Game" (1963)
* "Don't Talk to Him" (1963)
* "Maria No Mas" (1963)
* "I'm the Lonely One" (1964)
* "I Only Have Eyes for You" (1964)
* "Constantly (L'Edera)" (1964)
* "On the Beach" (1964)
* "The Twelfth of Never" (1964)
* "I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You)" (1964)
* "The Minute You're Gone" (1965)
* "Angel" (1965)
* "On My Word" (1965)
* "The Time in Between" (1965)
* "Wind Me Up (Let Me Go)" (1965)
* "Blue Turns to Grey" (1966)
* "Visions" (1966)
* "Time Drags By" (1966)
* "In the Country" (1966)
* "It's All Over" (1967)
* "I'll Come Runnin'" (1967)
* "The Day I Met Marie" (1967)"
* "All My Love" (1967)
* "Congratulations" (1968)
* "I'll Love You Forever Today" (1968)
* "Wonderful World" (1968)
* "Marianne" (1968)
* "Don't Forget to Catch Me" (1968)
* "Good Times (Better Times)" (1969)
* "Big Ship" (1969)
* "Early in the Morning" (1969)
* "Throw Down a Line" (1969)
* "With the Eyes of a Child" (1969)

1970s|

* "The Joy of Living" (1970)
* "Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" (1970)
* "I Ain't Got Time Anymore" (1970)
* "Sunny Honey Girl" (1971)
* "Silvery Rain" (1971)
* "Flying Machine" (1971)
* "Sing a Song of Freedom" (1971)
* "Jesus" (1972)
* "Living in Harmony" (1972)
* "Power to All Our Friends" (1973)
* "Help It Along" (1973)
* "Take Me High" (1973)
* "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" (1974)
* "Honky Tonk Angel" (1975)
* "Miss You Nights" (1976)
* "Devil Woman" (1976)
* "I Can't Ask for Anymore Than You" (1976)
* "Hey Mr. Dream Maker" (1976)
* "My Kinda Life" (1977)
* "When Two Worlds Drift Apart" (1977)
* "Green Light" (1979)
* "We Don't Talk Anymore" (1979)

1980s|

* "Carrie" (1980)
* "Dreamin'" (1980)
* "Suddenly" (1980)
* "A Little in Love" (1980)
* "Give a Little Bit More" (1981)
* "Wired for Sound" (1981)
* "Daddy's Home" (live) (1981)
* "The Only Way Out" (1982)
* "Little Town" (1982)
* "She Means Nothing to Me" (1983)
* "True Love Ways" (live) (1983)
* "Never Say Die (Give a Little Bit More)" (1983)
* "Please Don't Fall in Love" (1983)
* "Baby You're Dynamite" / "Ocean Deep" (1984)
* "Donna" (1984 US)
* "Two to the Power of Love" (1984)
* "Living Doll" (1986)
* "All I Ask of You" (1986)
* "Slow Rivers" (1986)
* "My Pretty One" (1987)
* "Some People" (1987)
* "Remember Me" (1987)
* "Two Hearts" (1988)
* "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988)
* "The Best of Me" (1989)
* "I Just Don't Have the Heart" (1989)
* "Lean on You" (1989)
* "Whenever God Shines His Light" (1989)

1990s|

* "Stronger Than That" (1990)
* "Silhouettes" (live) (1990)
* "From a Distance" (live) (1990)
* "Saviour's Day" (1990)
* "More to Life" (1991)
* "Scarlet Ribbons" (1991)
* "We Should Be Together" (1991)
* "This New Year" (1991)
* "I Still Believe in You" (1992)
* "Peace in Our Time" (1993)
* "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (live) / "Miss You Nights" (1994)
* "Can't Keep this Feeling In" (1998)
* "The Millennium Prayer" (1999)

2000s|

* "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"/"What a Wonderful World" (medley) (2001)
* "21st Century Christmas" / "Move It" (2006)
* "When I Need You" (2007)
* "Thank You for a Lifetime" (2008)
* "Singing the Blues" (2009)

2010s|

* "Rip It Up" (2013)
* "Since I Lost My Baby" (2014)
* "Roll Over Beethoven" (2016)
* "Blue Suede Shoes" (2017)

* v
* t
* e

The Chi-Lites

* Marshall Thompson
* Tara Thompson
* Fred Simon

* Robert "Squirrel" Lester
* Eugene Record
* Creadel "Red" Jones
* Clarence Johnson
* Stanley Anderson
* Willie Kensey
* Doc Roberson
* David Scott
* Danny Johnson
* Vandy Hampton
* Frank Reed
* Anthony Watson

Studio albums|

* Give It Away
* I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine?)
* (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People
* A Lonely Man
* A Letter to Myself
* Chi-Lites
* Toby
* Half a Love
* Happy Being Lonely
* Help Wanted

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits

Singles|

* "The Twelfth of Never"
* "Have You Seen Her"
* "Oh Girl"
* "Too Good to Be Forgotten"
* "The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)"

Related topics|

* Discography

* v
* t
* e

Donny Osmond

* Solo discography
* Donny and Marie Osmond discography
* Discography with the Osmond Brothers

Solo albums|

* The Donny Osmond Album
* To You with Love, Donny
* Portrait of Donny
* Too Young
* Alone Together
* A Time for Us
* Donny
* Disco Train
* Donald Clark Osmond
* Donny Osmond
* Eyes Don't Lie
* The Soundtrack of My Life

Compilation albums|

* My Best to You

Songs|

* "Sweet and Innocent"
* "Go Away Little Girl"
* "Hey Girl"
* "Puppy Love"
* "Too Young"
* "Why"
* "The Twelfth of Never"
* "Young Love"
* "A Million to One"
* "When I Fall in Love"
* "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
* "C'mon Marianne"
* "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String"
* "Soldier of Love"
* "Sacred Emotion"
* "My Love Is a Fire"
* "I'll Make a Man Out of You"
* "Breeze On By"

Related articles|

* Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
* The Osmonds
* Marie Osmond

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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