what's forever for?

I was in my usual self one late Sunday morning when something popped into my mind. There was this song I’ve heard from way… way back in the late 90’s. I heard it first from my board mate’s cassette player (that was really like a time space warp experience) and in an instant I fell in love with it. Shuus! I couldn’t figure out the title of the song; the lyrics were quite blurred in my memory. I could only recall fragments of words. Even the name or names of the artists were at the tip of my tongue. I started to feel the OC-OC (obsessive compulsive behaviour) attack.

Then, automatically I googled in the internet for hours just trying to find this song which was bugging my mind (don’t worry, this is not an auditory hallucination and my sanity is still intact). Viola! From Bearshare to You tube, I finally found it: What’s Forever For? It was sung by England Dan and Ford Coley. Whew! That was really from a long time ago. More searches flashed in my computer…

What else is there to know about the song? The song was also popularised by Billy Gilman, a child country singer cum pop star in the 90’s. Only then I knew that the song was the sound track of the movie, Pay It Forward with Billy Joel Osment in the lead role. It is a beautiful movie about a boy who started a network of helping others and the message is very clear that no matter who we are, we can make a difference in this world. Going back to the focus of my attention, I liked both versions of the song (Dan and Coley; B.Gilman). Sadly, I never got to check on who was the original because there was also a Michael Martin version. Olivia Newton John even has her own rendition of the song.

So many artists and it’s just one song. It must be something! And true enough, there is something about the song that can touch the soul. The melody is very simple yet very soothing to the ears. I am certain that many can resonate with the song. The lyrics have a poetic charm. It even reminded me of the last two lines of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 – If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ nor no man ever loved. The message of the song is powerful enough that can trigger a certain nostalgic experience that will bring a feeling of introspection about humanity and its very complex meaning solely based on ‘LOVE IS ETERNAL’ precept . So, breathe in and enjoy the song plus the lyrics…

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What's Forever For

I've been looking at people
And how they change with the times
And lately all I've been seeing are people
Throwing love away and losing their minds

Or maybe it's me that's gone crazy
'Cause I can't understand why
All these people keep hurting each other
When good love is so hard to come by

So what's the glory in living
Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore
And if love never lasts forever
Tell me what's forever for

I've been listening to people
And they say love is the key
And it's not my way to let them lead me astray
It's only that I want to believe

But I see love-hungry people
Trying their best to survive
While in their hands is a dying romance
And they're not even trying to keep it alive

So what's the glory in living
Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore
And if love never lasts forever
Tell me what's forever for