"You Belong to My Heart" is the name of an English language version of the Mexican Bolero song "Solamente una vez" which means "Only One Time". "Solamente una vez" was written and originally sung by the Mexican songwriter Agustín Lara. This original Spanish language version was very popular in Mexico and Cuba, and was recorded by many of the greatest Bolero musicians, including Benny Moré and Ignacio Piñeiro.
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"Solamente una vez", retitled "You Belong to My Heart", was featured in the Disney film "The Three Caballeros" with English lyrics written by Ray Gilbert and sung by Dora Luz.[1] Ray Gilbert's lyrics bear no similarity to Lara's original Spanish language lyrics.
Bing Crosby and the Xavier Cugat orchestra released a version of the song by Decca Records as catalog number 23413. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 24, 1945, and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4.[2]
The Charlie Spivak orchestra released a version by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1663. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 17, 1945 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9.[2]
Elvis Presley, as part of the Million Dollar Quartet sung a shortened version of the song, mixing Agustín Lara's original Spanish lyrics and Ray Gilbert's English lyrics.[3]
Andy Russell, Jerry Vale, and Engelbert Humperdinck all recorded versions mixing Agustín Lara's original Spanish lyrics and Ray Gilbert's English lyrics.[1][4]
Paula Kelly and The Modernaires also recorded a version of the song.[1]
Disney would use this song again in their short film "Pluto's Blue Note" (1947). Tito Guizar sang the song in the Roy Rogers film "The Gay Ranchero" (1948). Ezio Pinza sang a version mixing Agustín Lara's original Spanish lyrics and Ray Gilbert's English lyrics in "Mr. Imperium" (1951).[1]
Another English language version, titled "Only Once in My Life" was written by Janis and Rick Carnes and was released in 1998. These lyrics are not a translation of the original Spanish lyrics.