Live Forever
Shaver Billy Joe Lyrics

Shaver Billy Joe's song Live Forever is a proclamatory ballad that expresses the singer's belief in a post-mortem life, and an optimistic view of the inevitable journey to the afterlife. The song begins with the singer's assertion that he will live forever, confidently declaring that he will cross the river and catch the excitement of tomorrow. He knows that people will miss him when he is gone, but he assures them that he will always be around. He believes that his songs will continue to be popular after he has passed away and that he will attain a kind of immortality through them. The chorus repeats the lines "I'm gonna live forever, I'm gonna cross that river, I'm gonna catch tomorrow now," reinforcing the singer's confidence in his ability to transcend death.

The second verse moves away from the individualistic focus of the first one and addresses the parents of the world. The singer urges them to be good to one another, to raise their children in a loving environment, and to guide them towards the light. He warns them not to let the darkness of the world consume their children, not to make them feel alone or abandoned. The bridge invokes a vision of the end of the world, where the sky falls and the stars disappear. However, in this apocalyptic scenario, the singer reassures his listeners that they will always be loved and that love will make them live forever.

One interesting fact about Live Forever is that it was a hit single for Billy Joe Shaver when it was released in 1981. However, the song became better known as a cover version by Billy Joe's friend and long-time collaborator, Waylon Jennings. Jennings recorded the song on his 1985 album, Will the Wolf Survive. Another interesting fact is that Live Forever has been covered by many artists, including Jon Bon Jovi, Emmylou Harris, and Blackberry Smoke. The song has also been used in several movies and TV shows, such as The Sopranos and The Leftovers. The title of the song became a kind of mantra for Billy Joe Shaver, and he used it as the title of his 2003 autobiography.

The chord progression of Live Forever is relatively simple and easy to play. The song is in the key of A, and it uses the chords A, D, and E throughout. The song begins with an A chord, followed by a D chord, and then an E chord. The chorus uses the same three chords in the same pattern. The second verse follows the same pattern as the first, and the song ends with a final repetition of the chorus. The song's simple chord structure and catchy melody have made it a favorite of musicians for decades.

Chords: A, D, E.