The song, a Baroque pop single, is played with cello and a countermelody performed on a flute, based on about a half dozen chords. One of Nilsson's first hits (although a minor one), it explains the sadness of dreaming each night that the woman he loves will be there
but, she never is, and the melancholy of spending another day without her.
Scottish singer Lulu covered the song as "Without Him". Lulu's version was the B-side of her 1968 single "I'm A Tiger".
Julie London also recorded the song as "Without Him" on the last album she ever released, Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, in 1969.[6]
In Spanish the song was recorded by the Mexican singer José José, "Sin Ella" (Without Her), and is included on his first 1969 album Cuidado in a bossa nova version.
Triste Janero released the song as "Without Him" on their singular album Meet Triste Janero in 1969.
Okay Kaya covered the song on her 2021 mixtapeThe Incompatible Okay Kaya.
Eddy Mitchell covered the song with french lyrics as "Un nouveau jour sur la Terre" in his 1969 album Mitchellville
