Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and educated at Shrivenham School in Berkshire and the Commonweal School in Swindon. He was playing in several bands as early as age 15 when he bought his Gibson 335, a guitar that appears on nearly all of his records throughout his career, and a Vox AC30 amplifier. All previous guitars were "unsatisfactory" and required modification. He performed with local Swindon groups in clubs and dance halls playing mostly Buddy Holly songs. One of Hayward's early groups was All Things Bright, which opened for The Hollies and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. At age 17, he signed an eight-year publishing contract as a songwriter with the skiffle artist and record producer Lonnie Donegan, a move Hayward later regretted, as it meant the rights to all his songs written before 1974 would always be owned by Donegan's Tyler Music. In 1965 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker and auditioned as guitarist for Marty Wilde and he went on to work with Wilde and his wife in The Wilde Three.
For the most part, Hayward has used a red Gibson ES-335, though he also uses other guitars in both performing and recording, including a 1955 Martin D-28 "Dreadnought", a James Olson six-string acoustic, a black Guild acoustic, a Squier Stratocaster (essentially an inexpensive Fender Stratocaster, as Squier is a subsidiary of Fender), a Fender Telecaster, a blonde Guild 12-string acoustic (tuned to "open C" for "Question"), and in 1967 a black Gibson Les Paul. Between 1965 and 1968, he was without his Gibson 335 and relied on other instruments, most notably a 1964 Fender Telecaster and a hand-built 12-string guitar he had renovated for Donegan (he eventually bought this guitar from Donegan's widow). However, in an interview included on the Lovely to See You concert DVD (2005), Hayward says the 1963 Gibson 335 has been with him since 1967. Recently, he has played a Collings D3 on stage and on recordings. Among other instruments, Hayward also played mandolin on A Question of Balance and sitar on In Search of the Lost Chord.
Written at the end of one love affair and the beginning of another, the song "Nights in White Satin" was, according to Hayward, "in adoration of all women". Hayward married model Ann Marie Guirron on 19 December 1970. His daughter Doremi, who sings on the track "Raised on Love" on Hayward's 1977 album Songwriter, was born on 3 December 1972.
In 2013, Hayward spoke of his learning Transcendental Meditation in 1967, along with other members of the Moody Blues.
Children of Paradise
Justin Hayward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the shores of consciousness
We're alive and we're awake to the world
And with the gift of love we're blessed
'Cause we can be
Yes, we can be
We can be children of paradise
In the twinkling of an eye
Or the turning of the page
Comes the moment when
Our time has arrived
We can never be the same
We can be
Yes, we can be
We can be children of paradise
Children of paradise
And all I know
Is we're still climbing up that hill
And all we need to sustain us
Is love of love, the light of life
And the faith to know we can heal
Like children
Through the violence and the rage
By the grace of love be still
And the spirit that breaks free from the cage
Is the one they cannot kill
'Cause we can be
Yes, we can be
We can be children of paradise
Children of paradise
Children of paradise
Children of paradise
The lyrics to Justin Hayward and John Lodge's song "Children Of Paradise" is a hymn to hope, love and the human spirit. The song speaks of our awakening to the world, to the beauty and fragility of life, and the gift of love that sustains us. The imagery of the crashing of a wave and the turning of a page remind us of the constant change and transformation that life brings, and that we can never be the same. Yet, despite the challenges that we face, the song expresses a belief in our ability to overcome them and become "children of paradise."
The refrain "We can be, yes we can be, we can be children of paradise" is a call to optimism and faith. It is a reminder that we have the power to choose how we respond to the world, and that we can choose love over hate, hope over despair, and compassion over indifference. The song speaks to our shared humanity, and to our potential to create a world that is more just, peaceful and harmonious.
Overall, "Children Of Paradise" is a hopeful and uplifting song that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. It is an invitation to embrace our inner child, to connect with our sense of wonder and curiosity, and to believe in our ability to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the crashing of a wave
Just like a wave crashes on the shore, we are also alive and wide awake to the world.
On the shores of consciousness
Our consciousness is similar to the shore on which we live, that's where our awareness is.
We're alive and we're awake to the world
We are very much alive and aware of our existence in this world.
And with the gift of love we're blessed
Love is a beautiful gift, and with that gift, we are truly blessed.
'Cause we can be
We definitely have the ability to be something much greater.
Yes, we can be
We have the potential to grow and reach our highest goals.
We can be children of paradise
We can be the children who create a paradise on earth through our love and kindness.
In the twinkling of an eye
In the mere blink of an eye, things can change for the better.
Or the turning of the page
Similarly, our lives can turn a new leaf just as quickly in time.
Comes the moment when
All we need to reach our potential is that one single moment in time.
Our time has arrived
The right time for us to spread our wings and take flight has finally arrived.
We can never be the same
Once that moment comes, our lives change dramatically and we can never go back to our old ways.
And all I know
Amidst all the uncertainty and chaos, the only thing I know for sure is-
Is we're still climbing up that hill
We are still making our way up that mountain towards our goal.
And all we need to sustain us
All that we need to keep pushing forward is-
Is love of love, the light of life
The love that comes from our hearts and the light of life that illuminates our path.
And the faith to know we can heal
Through love and the light of life, we have the faith and ability to heal anything that comes our way.
Like children
Just like children, we too can be full of hope, faith, and positivity.
Through the violence and the rage
Despite all the negativity, conflicts, and extreme anger around us,
By the grace of love be still
We can still find peace and solace through the grace and love that we have.
And the spirit that breaks free from the cage
Our soul has the power to break free from the chains of oppression and negativity in our lives.
Is the one they cannot kill
Because our spirit cannot be silenced or killed by anyone. It is our strongest aspect.
'Cause we can be
We all possess the potential to be someone great and powerful.
Yes, we can be
We have to believe in our potential and affirm that we are capable of greatness.
We can be children of paradise
We can be the children who create a paradise on earth through our love and kindness.
Children of paradise
We can be the shining stars who transform this world into a paradise through our actions and beliefs.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: JUSTIN HAYWARD, MICKEY FEAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dearly Beloved
LIKE THE CRASHING OF A WAVE
ON THE SHORES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
WE'RE ALIVE AND
WE'RE AWAKE TO THE WORLD
AND WITH THE GIFT OF LOVE WE'RE BLESSED
'CAUSE WE CAN BE
YES, WE CAN BE
WE CAN BE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE
OR THE TURNING OF A PAGE
COMES THE MOMENT WHEN
OUR TIME HAS ARRIVED
WE CAN NEVER BE THE SAME
WE CAN BE
YES, WE CAN BE
WE CAN BE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
AND ALL I KNOW
IS WE'RE STILL CLIMBING UP THAT HILL
AND ALL WE NEED TO SUSTAIN US
IS LOVE OF LOVE
THE LIGHT OF LIFE
AND THE FAITH TO KNOW WE CAN HEAL
LIKE CHILDREN
THROUGH THE VIOLENCE AND THE RAGE
BY THE GRACE OF LOVE BE STILL
AND THE SPIRIT THAT BREAKS FREE FROM THE CAGE
IS THE ONE THEY CANNOT KILL
WE CAN BE
YES, WE CAN BE
WE CAN BE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
CHILDREN OF PARADISE
David Faubion
Justin makes every word, every syllable and tone he sings crystal clear, yet not intrusive, and its a blessing.
Mary Scott
This song is so beautiful. The video does it major justice. Very well done. Thank you.
bobbie hartley
I love this song and the guitar work especially...
Matt Dwyer
A Haunting and brilliant masterpiece!
Matt Dwyer
We can be children of paradise. 😳
Pedy1968
Beautiful work with a beautiful song!
Ellen Yarbrough
This is a beautiful song. I sure like hearing about love for one another in this cynical world that's grown up around us. Thanks Justin Hayward.
Rosemary Stanley
Simply Love this song, well done!
Kal Lehprasert
Very beautiful song written by one of the most prolific songwriters of all time.
1DansBlues
What a beautiful and peaceful video, it is so eye appealing. There is just an insight of heaven in this video and GA you let us know how beautiful the world is as is reinforced with such a beautiful song.