According to Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 songs, Sam Cooke's producers had the idea for him to do a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show. "She didn't do anything but just look up at Perry Como in the most wistful-type manner," said J.W. Alexander, Cooke's business adviser. Cooke decided to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired "Straight to my lover's heart" whenever the song called for it.
The arrow sounds were made by backing vocalists Kenneth Simms (leaving the bow) and Bobbie Simms (hitting the target). Kenneth and Bobbie were twins and it was the first time they ever recorded in a studio.
In 1969, reggae star Johnny Nash enjoyed a #6 UK hit (#39 in the US) with a cover of this song; it was originally the B-side of his 1968 hit "Hold Me Tight." In 1980 The Spinners (known as The Detroit Spinners in England) reached #4 in both the UK and US with a medley of this and the Michael Zager song "I've Loved You For a Long Time."
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