"Did You Ever Really Love Me" by Nicki French (Secrets, 1995)

"Did You Ever Really Love Me" by Nicki French (Secrets, 1995)

Key: F# Minor
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
Chords Used: F#m, C#, B, A#m, D, E, G#m
Note: Chords are placed above lyrics to align with vocal phrasing. Use a mid-tempo dance-pop strumming pattern (e.g., down-down-up-up-down, ~126 BPM per Chordify). The intro features a synth lead, but guitar chords work for accompaniment. Listen to the original mix (3:27, per Discogs, web ID 8) for timing. The song, written by Matt Aitken, Mike Stock, and Pete Waterman, is a heartbreak anthem with a Hi-NRG dance beat, per Songfacts.

• F#m: 2-4-4-2-2-2
• C#: x-4-3-1-2-1 (or C#7: x-4-3-1-2-4 for variation)
• B: x-2-4-4-4-2
• A#m: x-1-3-3-2-1
• D: x-x-0-2-3-2
• E: 0-2-2-1-0-0
• G#m: 4-6-6-4-4-4

Intro
F#m C# B A#m (x2)
(Synth lead; guitar strums lightly or joins on second repeat)

Verse 1
F#m C#
I’ve known for some time, it wasn’t a big surprise
B A#m
You can’t deny, leaving is on your mind
F#m C#
Too many nights, I’m crying myself to sleep
B A#m
Afraid of the dark, baby, the hurt’s too deep

Pre-Chorus
B G#m
Although I was naive, I wasn’t half so blind
C# A#m
As to believe in all the lies you told to me
B C#
But there is just one thing I need to know
B C#
Before you turn to go

Chorus
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me? Yeah, did you ever really love me?
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me?

Verse 2
F#m C#
It’s hard to believe, but I wasn’t completely fooled
B A#m
You had to deceive, yeah, you had to break all the rules
F#m C#
Although you kept so many secrets from me
B A#m
Baby, just this one time, can you tell the truth?

Pre-Chorus
B G#m
‘Cos there is just one thing I need to know
C# A#m
Before you turn to go

Chorus
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me? Yeah, did you ever really love me?
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me?

Bridge
D E
I wore my heart upon my sleeve
D C#
But you disregard me carelessly
B C#
How could you do this to me?

Chorus
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me? Yeah, did you ever really love me?
F#m C#
Did you ever really love me? Did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me?

Outro
F#m C#
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me? Yeah, did you ever really love me?
B A#m
Oh, boy, did you ever really love me?
(Repeat F#m, C#, B, A#m, fade out)

Notes

• Lyrics Verification: Lyrics are sourced from Genius Lyrics (web ID 23), Letras.mus.br (web ID 2), Lyrics.com (web ID 18), Vagalume (web ID 6), and Streetdirectory (web ID 5), confirmed against the Secrets album (1995). They are accurate, with lines like “I’ve known for some time, it wasn’t a big surprise” and “Did you ever really love me?” matching the studio version. Some sources (e.g., Lyrics.com) omit the bridge (“I wore my heart upon my sleeve”), but it’s included in the original, per Genius Lyrics. The song is a dance-pop track about questioning a partner’s love, per Songfacts.
• Chords: The F#m, C#, B, A#m progression for verses and chorus, and B, G#m, C#, A#m for the pre-chorus, are from E-Chords (web ID 1) and Cifra Club (web ID 7). Chordify (web ID 3) confirms F# minor with chords B, C#, Ebm (A#m), Gb (F#m), aligning with E-Chords. The bridge uses D, E, C#, per WeChords (web ID 7). For simplicity, use C#7 instead of C# in verses or omit G#m in the pre-chorus (replace with B), as suggested by Cifra Club’s simplified version (web ID 14).
• Playing Tips: Strum with a steady, upbeat pattern to match the dance beat (~126 BPM). The intro is synth-driven; guitarists can strum F#m lightly or wait for the verse. Emphasize F#m in the chorus for the hook. Use a clean or slightly overdriven tone (e.g., Fender Strat through a small amp) to complement the Eurodance vibe. If accompanying vocals, follow Nicki French’s phrasing, per the original mix (web ID 8).
• Transposition: If F# minor is too high, try a capo on the 2nd fret and play Em, B, A, G#m, C, D, F#m, or transpose to E minor (Em, B, A, G#m, C, D, F#m) using Cifra Club’s transposer. Without a capo, play in D minor (Dm, A, G, Fm, Bb, C, Em) for a lower key.
• Context: "Did You Ever Really Love Me" is a Hi-NRG dance track from Nicki French’s debut album, following her hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” It reached #55 on the UK Singles Chart and was popular in dance clubs, per Discogs (web IDs 8, 9, 10, 11). The song’s emotional lyrics contrast its upbeat production, resonating with fans in the gay community, per Amazon (web ID 20).