He originally produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane, who was the first to release the song.

It was then given to American singer Bobby Goldsboro, who recorded it for his 1968 album of the same name, originally titled Pledge of Love.

"Honey" was written by Bobby Russell, who took inspiration from a tree in his front yard when he noticed how big it had become since he had planted it.

After listening to Russell's simpler rendition accompanied by just a guitar, Goldsboro became interested and asked if he could cover the song.

It was preceded on the Billboard Hot 100 by "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding and was followed by Archie Bell & the Drells' "Tighten Up".

[11][12] It was certified gold on April 4, 1968, the same day that Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, an event that may have helped the sales of the single.

"[19] Margaret Lewis released an answer version titled "Honey (I Missed You Too)", which reached No.

[20] A jazz instrumental version was recorded by The Distant Galaxy as a medley with the "Elvira Madigan theme", and it reached No.

There were also non-English versions: in Italy, for example, the author Daniele Pace wrote lyrics in the language with the title "Amore, mi manchi" ("My love, I miss you").

This version was recorded by Bobby Solo, Peppino Gagliardi, the late Roman singer Giuliana Valci and by Goldsboro himself.

In Sweden in 1968, Björn Ulvaeus, who later would achieve world success as a founding member of Abba, recorded a version with Swedish lyrics by Stig Anderson.