Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
Love Is The Answer
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when I do
I'm gonna love her all the way
I'm gonna love her more each day
I'll search everywhere I can think of
And someday I know I'll find a love
(Search) To wash my tears away
(Search) To wipe my fears away
(Love) Love alone will do
Oh love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
Love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
From east to west time lingers on
Somewhere in the wilderness
There will come a happy morn
Life to me will be just born
When the rays of a golden dawn
Shine from above
Little birds will sing the song of love
(Search) To wash my tears away
(Love) When I'm feelin' blue
(Search) To wipe my fears away
(Love) Love alone will do
Oh love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
Love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
From day to day I'll hope and pray
And somehow, someway
I will know the glory of
Having that someone to love
True happiness and peace of mind
And sometime, someday I'll find a love
(Search) To wash my tears away
(Love) When I'm feelin' blue
(Search) To wipe my fears away
(Love) Love alone will do
Oh love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
Love is the answer
Love is a better life
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
If we people learn to love a little more
Everything will be all right
The lyrics of Van Dyke Parks's song "Love Is the Answer" express the search for true love and the belief that it holds the key to happiness and peace of mind. The singer is on a quest to find love, and assures that when he does, he will love her completely and more with each passing day. The lyrics speak of the hardship of loneliness and fear and the healing power of love to wash away tears and fears. Love is depicted as a transformative force that can make everything alright if only people could learn to love a little more. The songs suggest that time lingers on, and somewhere, in the wilderness, there will come a happy morn where life will begin anew, and little birds sing the song of love. The reiteration of the line "Love is the answer, love is a better life" drives home the idea that everything in life could be better if only people could learn to love more.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll find a love sometime, someday
I will devote time to find the companion of my life
And when I do
When I find that person
I'm gonna love her all the way
I will love unconditionally and completely
I'm gonna love her more each day
My love will grow stronger every day
I'll search everywhere I can think of
I will look extensively in all places possible
And someday I know I'll find a love
I am sure that someday I will find true love
(Search) To wash my tears away
I need someone's love to comfort my sadness
(Love) When I'm feelin' blue
Love is the only cure for my emotional distress
(Search) To wipe my fears away
I wish to find someone who would reassure me and make me feel safe
(Love) Love alone will do
Love has the power to heal and console
Oh love is the answer
Love is the ultimate solution
Love is a better life
A life with love is a happier, fulfilling life
If we people learn to love a little more
Our society needs and would benefit from more love
Everything will be all right
All our problems can be eased or solved by love
From east to west time lingers on
Time goes by everywhere, without exception
Somewhere in the wilderness
In some remote, unexplored area
There will come a happy morn
There will be a joyful moment of discovery
Life to me will be just born
I will feel renewed and reborn in my life
When the rays of a golden dawn
When the early sunlight shines magnificently
Shine from above
Reflecting from the sky
Little birds will sing the song of love
Nature will celebrate with me the feeling of love
From day to day I'll hope and pray
I will keep expecting and praying for love
And somehow, someway
In some way, without knowing the how
I will know the glory of
I will experience the greatness of
Having that someone to love
Finding that special person to love and cherish
True happiness and peace of mind
Authentic joy and calmness
And sometime, someday I'll find a love
I am certain to discover love at some point in time
If we people learn to love a little more
Expanding the love in our society is necessary
Everything will be all right
Love is the key that can fix any issue
If we people learn to love a little more
We must develop more love in ourselves
Everything will be all right
With more love, peace and harmony can be achieved
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Egbert Dawkins, Pharrell Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind