Raised in Salt Lake City, Stewart says his mother is his inspiration. A classically trained pianist herself, she wanted to share her love of music with her children. Sadly, she passed away from breast cancer when he was just 13. Stewart says this was a poignant moment in his life and he realized the gift she had given to him. He said, “As a teenager I missed her and I would sit at the piano and play and think about her.” His father encouraged him to continue to pursuing his talent.
After graduating from high school, Stewart was awarded a full-ride scholarship in music to the University of Utah. He perfected his piano skills as he studied, played and taught piano lessons. He especially enjoyed teaching students with an affinity for composition and song writing. Although Stewart eventually left the music department and pursued a career in computers, he never lost his desire to compose and play the instrument he loves. Today, his spare time is spent with music, and his passion has become something his wife, Cindy, and their two daughters cherish when spending time together..
Stewart's greatest ambition is to combine his love of computers with music to create compositions for the entertainment industry, particularly in film. Stewart has a gift for orchestrating just about anything, beginning with a concerto he wrote at the age of 17. He has also written works for Geico, Novell, Recording Artist Paul Cardall, Facebook, director Charlene Music, and others. More information can be found on Stewart’s website, www.ryanstewartmusic.com
In Case You Don't Live Forever
Ryan Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gave me the world that I wanted
What did I do to deserve you?
I follow your steps with my feet
I walk on the road that you started
I need you to know that I heard you, every word
I've waited way too long to say
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now
I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
I'm everything that I am because of you
I, I've carried this song in my mind
Listen, it's echoing in me
But I haven't helped you to hear it
We, we've only got so much time
I'm pretty sure it would kill me
If you didn't know the pieces of me are pieces of you
I've waited way too long to say
Everything you mean to me
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now
I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
I'm everything that I am because of you
I have a hero whenever I need one
I just look up to you then I see one
I'm a man 'cause you taught me to be one
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now
I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
I'm everything that I am
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
As long as I'm here as I am, so are you
The lyrics to Ryan Stewart's song In Case You Don't Live Forever is an expression of love and appreciation to a significant person in the singer's life. The song starts with the acknowledgement of how much the person has done for the singer, putting their faith in his dreams and granting him his desires. The singer then goes on to mention that he follows in the path laid out by this person and owes every piece of him to the said individual. The song has a melancholic undertone, heavily emphasizing the shortness of life and how little time is available to express all the emotions bottled up inside.
The singer admits to waiting too long to let this person know how much they mean to him and conveys a need to express his feelings before it is too late. The song goes on to tell this person that the singer loves them more than they could ever understand and that they are everything that he is. The last few lines of the song reaffirm that this person is the singer's hero, who has taught him everything he knows.
Overall, the song is a touching tribute and a reminder to express our love and appreciation to those we care about before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
You put all your faith in my dreams
You had trust in my aspirations and believed in my ability.
You gave me the world that I wanted
You provided me with everything I desired, and made my dreams a reality.
What did I do to deserve you?
I am grateful for your existence in my life and wonder what kind of deeds I did to be fortunate enough to have you.
I follow your steps with my feet
I am inspired by your actions, and try to emulate them in my own life.
I walk on the road that you started
I continue to follow the path that you established and uphold your legacy.
I need you to know that I heard you, every word
I want you to know that I listened to every single thing you said, and took it to heart.
I've waited way too long to say
Everything you mean to me
I regret not telling you sooner, but I want you to know that you hold an incredibly special place in my heart.
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now
I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around
Just in case you are not with me forever, I want you to know that I love you more than you could ever imagine.
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
I'm everything that I am because of you
If there is a chance that you will not be around forever, I want to be sure that you know that everything that makes me who I am is because of you.
I, I've carried this song in my mind
Listen, it's echoing in me
But I haven't helped you to hear it
I have had these words and feelings inside of me for a long time, but I have not expressed them to you.
We, we've only got so much time
I'm pretty sure it would kill me
If you didn't know the pieces of me are pieces of you
I am aware that time is limited, and I would be devastated if you did not understand that everything that makes me who I am is a reflection of you and the influence you have had on me.
I have a hero whenever I need one
I just look up to you then I see one
I'm a man 'cause you taught me to be one
Whenever I am in need of guidance and inspiration, you are my hero. I am who I am today because of the lessons and values you instilled in me.
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now
I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
I'm everything that I am
Once again, I want to be sure that you understand just how much I love you and how important you are to me. If anything were to happen, I want you to know how much of an impact you have had on my life.
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
These lines are simply a repetition of the chorus.
In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth
As long as I'm here as I am, so are you
If there comes a time when you are no longer with me, please know that your spirit will always live on through me, and everything you have taught me will continue to shape who I am.
Writer(s): Nate Cyphert, Michael Pollack, Ben Platt
Contributed by Michael V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.