Blues, rock, protest songs all have come from his pen as a writer, and his solo albums reflect his eclectic musical influences such as Patrick Sky.
Sweet Memories
John Kay Lyrics
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And you don't want me just while I stay
Do you mean that it's always or never
Can we not share the joys of today
There's a chance that tomorrow I'm leaving
There's a chance of a lonely goodbye
But I've learned long go it ain't easy
And it hurts so much more not to cry
[Chorus]
So I'll build my tomorrows on sweet memories
Of the times we chased away the sorrow
Than to live a lifetime of long emptiness
And to bear the dreams I had to borrow
Well if you don't believe me girl, you'll try in vain
To get things guaranteed in life, except heartaches and pain
And though you try to bind your joy with loving chains
Happiness will come and go like sunshine and rain
[Chorus]
I remember the times full of pleasure
That I shared with the women I knew
There are moments that I'll always treasure
They were special, each one, just like you
So let's not play games with each other
For the time may come soon when we'll part
And though we're no longer together
I will carry you here in my heart
The song "Sweet Memories" by John Kay discusses the complexities of romantic love and the inevitable pain that comes with it. The lyrics start off with the singer questioning the motivations of their significant other when they say they want to be together forever. This uncertainty is understandable given the impermanence of life and relationships. The singer acknowledges that they may leave tomorrow, but still wants to cherish the present moment with their loved one.
The chorus serves as a reminder that memories of joyful times bring comfort and solace during difficult periods. Rather than feeling empty and alone, one can choose to hold onto the good times and use those memories to a build a more optimistic future. The second verse of the song has a slightly more cynical tone. The singer warns the loved one that there are no guarantees in life, except for heartache and pain. Relationship troubles and hardships are an inevitable part of life that one must learn to weather. The song finishes with a message about the enduring power of memories. Even if the relationship ends, the memories will always stay with the singer and live on in their heart.
Overall, John Kay's "Sweet Memories" is a poignant rumination on love and life's uncertainties. It underscores the importance of living in the moment and cherishing joyful times, while also accepting the inevitability of heartache and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
When you say that you want me forever
When you tell me that you want to be with me for all time
And you don't want me just while I stay
And you're not just saying that because of our current situation
Do you mean that it's always or never
Do you really mean that you want a commitment for eternity, or not at all?
Can we not share the joys of today
Can we not enjoy the present moment without worrying about the future?
There's a chance that tomorrow I'm leaving
There's a possibility that I may have to go away soon
There's a chance of a lonely goodbye
There's a possibility that we may have to say goodbye to each other
But I've learned long go it ain't easy
But I've learned a long time ago that it's not easy to say goodbye
And it hurts so much more not to cry
And it hurts even more to hold back tears than to let them flow
So I'll build my tomorrows on sweet memories
So instead of worrying about the future, I'll focus on creating happy memories for us to look back on
Of the times we chased away the sorrow
Of the moments where we were able to push aside sadness and enjoy each other's company
Than to live a lifetime of long emptiness
Rather than living a life full of emptiness and longing
And to bear the dreams I had to borrow
And having to deal with unfulfilled dreams that I had to borrow from somewhere else
Well if you don't believe me girl, you'll try in vain
If you don't believe that there's no guarantee in life, you'll be disappointed
To get things guaranteed in life, except heartaches and pain
Nothing is ever truly guaranteed in life, except for heartache and pain
And though you try to bind your joy with loving chains
And even if you try to hold on to happiness by clinging to love
Happiness will come and go like sunshine and rain
Happiness is as ephemeral as the changing weather
I remember the times full of pleasure
I reminisce about the moments of pure happiness
That I shared with the women I knew
That I had the pleasure of knowing and loving
There are moments that I'll always treasure
There are some moments that are so special, I'll always hold them close
They were special, each one, just like you
Each of those moments were unique and special, just like you are
So let's not play games with each other
So let's be honest and straightforward with each other
For the time may come soon when we'll part
Because there may come a time when we have to say goodbye
And though we're no longer together
And even if we're not physically together
I will carry you here in my heart
I'll always remember you and carry you in my heart
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN KAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind