It Doesn't Have to Be


"It Doesn't Have to Be" is a song by the English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 16 February 1987. It was issued as a single six weeks before the release of the duo's second studio album, The Circus. Following the number-two UK placing of previous single "Sometimes", it became Erasure's second Top 20 hit in the UK and their third Top 20 hit in West Germany.
The lyric of the song deplores a lack of necessity for strife and may be understood to refer to apartheid in South Africa, but there is no particular reference. The middle eight is in Swahili, an eastern African language: Lala pamoja na mimi / Nyumbani yako, nyumbani yako / Sababu wewe hapana kaa na mimi / Nyumbani yako, nyumbani yako, 'Sleep with me / At your place, at your place / Why don't you stay with me / At your place, at your place.' So they deplore a lack of necessity for strife not only between two peoples, but also between two people.
The single's B-side is a rendition of "In the Hall of the Mountain King", a piece taken from Norwegian composer and pianist Grieg's Peer Gynt suite.

Track listings

7" single
  1. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"12" single
  3. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  4. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  5. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"Limited 12" single
  6. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
  7. "Heavenly Action"
  8. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" CD single
  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
  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! (A Man After Midnight)"
  19. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"