It Doesn't Have to Be


"It Doesn't Have to Be" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in February 1987. It was issued as a single six weeks before the release of the duo's second album, The Circus.
Following the number-two UK placing of previous single "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Have to Be" became Erasure's second Top 20 hit in the UK and their third German Top 20 hit.
The lyrics of the song refer to apartheid in Africa and explain the bit of the middle of the song, sung in Kiswahili that, while imperfect, still makes sense in the context of the song:
Lala pamoja na mimi / Nyumbani yako, nyumbani yako / Sababu wewe hapana kaa na mimi / Nyumbani yako, nyumbani yako
The rough translation of these lyrics is "Sleep with me / At your place , at your place / Why don't you stay with me / At your place, at your place."
The single's B-side is a rendition of "In the Hall of the Mountain King", a piece taken from Grieg's Peer Gynt suite.

Track listings

7" single (MUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

    12" single (12MUTE56)

  3. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  4. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  5. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

    Limited 12" single (L12MUTE56)

  6. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  7. "Heavenly Action"
  8. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

    CD single (CDMUTE56)

  9. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  10. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"
  11. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  12. "Who Needs Love Like That"

    CD single (Special Edition CDMUTE56)

  13. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  14. "Sometimes"
  15. "Oh L'amour"
  16. "Heavenly Action"
  17. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  18. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! "
  19. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

    Chart performance