The music was composed by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and Claude François, and the lyrics were translated from the original version "Parce que je t'aime, mon enfant" (Because I Love You My Child) into English by Phil Coulter and Bill Martin.

Rather than risk losing that through a painful divorce, the father makes the decision to stay in a loveless marriage for the sake of his child.

Actor Richard Harris performed the song "My Boy" at a music contest sponsored by Radio Luxembourg in 1971.

[1] Elvis Presley recorded a cover version of "My Boy" in late 1973 that was included on his 1974 album Good Times.

[3] In the UK, where Presley's career had had something of a resurgence in the previous few years, it made the top 10 peaking at number 5 in the first week of January 1975.