Europe‘s long-time guitarist John Norum will be releasing a new solo album titled 'Gone To Stay' via Gain on October 28, 2022. Norum previously released the solo albums 'Total Control' (1987), 'Live In Stockholm' EP (1990), 'Face The Truth' (1992), 'Another Destination' (1995), 'Worlds Away' (1996), 'Slipped Into Tomorrow' (1999), 'Optimus' (2005) and 'Play Yard Blues' (2010).
Law Of Life
John Norum Lyrics
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And so I have been away
What is left to come back to
Makes it worse to stay
Hiding things from the corners
Of the things from the past
But the paintings remind me
Never count on a tiger
Never play with the fire
Don′t remind me of home
'Cause I′ve been out in the west
Writing letters of love
That's the law of life
I've been filled up with hunger
For a mail to be mine
I′ve been building a house too
Like I′ve been building desire
Sometimes words are despiteful
And sometimes they are blind
But my longing is frightful
I'm screaming time after time
Never count on a tiger
Never play with the fire
Don′t remind me of home
'Cause I′ve been out in the west
Writing letters of love
That's the law of life
Oh, yeah
Never count on a tiger
Never play with the fire
Don′t remind me of home
'Cause I've been out in the west
Writing letters of love
Oh, hat′s the law of life
That′s the law of life
The law of life
That's the law of life
In "Law of Life," John Norum expresses a feeling of frustration and longing as he reflects on his past, his present, and his uncertain future. The first stanza of the song appears to suggest that the singer has left his home but is reluctant to return because the situation there has worsened. He is haunted by memories of the past, represented by the paintings that remind him of his former self, and wonders whether there is anything left for him to come back to. The second stanza is more introspective, as Norum delves into his own emotions and desires. He longs for a message of love, represented by a letter, but also admits to building a house and craving desire, suggesting that he is searching for a sense of stability or permanence in his life.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that life is unpredictable and that the rules are constantly changing. Norum warns against counting on anything too heavily, whether it's a person (symbolized by the tiger) or a dangerous activity (symbolized by playing with fire). He concludes that the law of life is to write letters of love, or to express one's emotions freely, regardless of the risks.
Line by Line Meaning
When the tears are enough
At a certain point, the sorrow can be too much to bear
And so I have been away
As a result, I have been keeping my distance
What is left to come back to
It feels like there's nothing waiting for me if I return
Makes it worse to stay
So staying put just makes things worse
Hiding things from the corners
Trying to conceal aspects of my past
Of the things from the past
The events that shaped who I am today
But the paintings remind me
Regardless, I still cannot forget
That we were two of a cast
Of the two of us, I alone remain
Never count on a tiger
It's unwise to rely on something known to be dangerous
Never play with the fire
It's best not to tempt fate with risky behavior
Don’t remind me of home
I'd rather not think about what I've lost
’Cause I’ve been out in the west
I've been living a life far from what I once knew
Writing letters of love
Communicating with those I love from afar
That’s the law of life
This is just the way life goes sometimes
I've been filled up with hunger
There's an unquenchable craving inside of me
For a mail to be mine
A longing to receive something personal just for me
I've been building a house too
I'm trying to create something permanent in my life
Like I've been building desire
But this is a desire I haven't been able to fulfill
Sometimes words are despiteful
People can say hurtful things without meaning to
And sometimes they are blind
Other times, they just don't understand what I'm going through
But my longing is frightful
My longing is so intense, it's almost scary
I'm screaming time after time
I keep trying to express my emotions, but they go unheard
Oh yeah
That’s the law of life
Once again, this is just how things go sometimes
That’s the law of life
This is just the way it is, for better or for worse
The law of life
It's a universal truth that we all have to accept
Writer(s): M. Lindfors, M. Lorentz
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Endryus
on Endica
My cover version of this song: https://youtu.be/nHB49LxEOE8
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on In Chase Of The Wind
My cover version of this song: https://youtu.be/RgyotXh3ZTk
Endryus
on Shimmering Highs (Album Version)
My cover version of this song: https://youtu.be/chWirrt2_LA