It’s Not for Me to Say – Johnny Mathis | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1957
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1957, Johnny Mathis released It’s Not for Me to Say, a ballad written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman. The song was featured in the film Lizzie, in which Mathis also appeared briefly, further increasing its exposure.
Produced by Mitch Miller, the recording featured sweeping orchestration and Mathis’ smooth, controlled vocal delivery. Released in the spring of 1957, It’s Not for Me to Say reached #5 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The lyric centers on romantic hesitation. Rather than boldly declaring love, the narrator suggests that it is not his place to define the future, instead allowing the relationship to unfold naturally.
It’s Not for Me to Say became one of Johnny Mathis’ early signature recordings and helped establish him as one of the leading male vocalists of the late 1950s.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Mitch Miller
Lyrics Written by:
Robert Allen
Al Stillman
Awards:
No Grammy Awards were awarded specifically for the single.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.