“I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You” is a song recorded by American country music duo Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. It was released in July 1976 as the first single and title track from the album I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You. It was the most successful single for both Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius as both a duo and as solo artists. The single was the only number one of their careers and stayed at number one for two weeks and spent a total of ten weeks on the country chart.The song was written by Fred Imus and Phil Sweet.

From the album I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You
B-side “Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?”
Released July 1976
Genre Country
Length 3:02
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s) Fred Imus Phil Sweet
Producer(s) Bob Ferguson

Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius – I Dont Want to Have to Marry You Lyrics

I don’t want to have marry you
I don’t want have to say I do
I want our love to be free
The way God meant love to be.

I don’t want to have to marry you
Just because it’d be the thing to do
I want our marriage to be strong
Something we can build upon.

Every time I want you more
Than I did the time before
Can you stay with me for a while?
But I want the fire still burning bright
Darling, on our wedding night
Let’s wait till we walk down the aisle.

I don’t want to have marry you
I don’t want have to say I do
I want our love to be free
The way God meant love to be.

Don’t say you have to go
Because I want you so
I don’t want to be alone
The temptation is strong
But it’s all so wrong
Please stop and take me home.

I don’t want to have marry you
I don’t want have to say I do
I want our love to be free
The way God meant love to be.

I want our love to be free
The way God meant love to be…