Everyone loves a good love song, at least every once in a while, and they aren't difficult to find. These days, though, with so many songs about one night stands and meaningless hook-ups, real love songs are more challenging to find.
There's something about "forever love" that provides a perfect inspiration for any romantic song, whether it be from 30 years ago, or currently gracing the Top 40. Although Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" is more poetic, Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" communicates the same concept of being in love as long as time lasts.
"They say time takes it's toll on the body, makes a young girl's brown hair turn grey. Well, honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair. And if it all fell out, well I'd love you anyway. They say time can play tricks on the memory; make people forget things they knew... I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever, amen."
His love for her is unconditional, it is not based on looks or outward appearances, but is instead a love that will never die. Even when they are old, when their youth has faded, their love will remain the same and be theirs to have and hold forever.
"When your legs don't work like they used to before, and I can't sweep you off of your feet... And darling, I will be loving you until we're 70... When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades, I know you will still love me the same... Your soul could never grow old... Your smile's forever in my mind and memory."
Here, also, we see love transcending time and hormonal romance, and extending into the grey-haired, feeble, forgetful years.
The idea of a love that is enduring is rare and beautiful, and songs like these give hope to the masses that love like that exists in places other than Disney movies. These songs are structurally similar, with verses, a refrain, and repeating lines ("maybe we found love right where we are" and "forever and ever, amen"), but contain identical themes of everlasting love that stirs the heart despite the day in age.
Good songs! For the theme of everlasting love, I also like Westlife's "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for you."
ReplyDeleteThese are all great songs, and I agree. I do think that these songs give everyone a little hope about love. It does exist (strangely enough) in other places besides Disney movies!
ReplyDeleteThe Postal Service made some really great love songs. Well, they made two. Their other songs are pretty much really depressing songs about relationships ending or that have ended, which can be their own sort of wonderful. If you've never heard their song, "Such Great Heights", I recommend it. Iron & Wine does a really amazing acoustic cover of it.
ReplyDeleteI love these songs that you focused on. I think that in recent years mainstream pop music has finally caught up with the other genres and produced some meaningful love songs. I personally love the simplistic chorus of those older country songs that tell a tale of endless love.
ReplyDeleteThese are both great songs. I love Randy Travis, I have since I was a little girl. His voice is just so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteReally refreshing to read and think about! And I loved that song, so thank you for sharing! I love my rap and hip hop music but there's really not a whole lot of meaning anymore.
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