Walking Without Rhythm

Very often, when I wake up in the AM, I have a song in my head. Maybe left over from a dream that I usually can’t remember after 3 seconds. Or not. And not always. This morning, I woke up and knew I wanted to hear a particular song. Problem was I did not know the name of it, or who sings it, or how it goes, or any of the lyrics. Hmm. I felt like it was a new wave song from the eighties and thought it was English or Australian. But that’s about it. After a few hours with nothing popping into my head, I figured it was time for research.

I knew I would recognize the Title and Artist if I saw it (at least I was pretty sure I would) so I started with 1980 and found a list of the top 100 songs of the year. Scanning down the list nothing clicked so I went to 1981; rinse and repeat. Got to 1994 and still nothing. OK need a new search. New Wave Artists from 1980’s. Couple of lists. Nothing. OK, new wave artists from England. Nope. Australia. Nada. Ah but here is a site with multiple countries. After a little reading found the New Wave/Pop Synth Germany list. Boom, there it is. Forever Young, Alphaville, 1984. (duh, had to be German. Ich bin Weyer) Immediately put it on YouTube. (oddly, in 2024, Alphaville’s single Forever Young reached number 1 on the Top 100 Billboard Chart, 40 years after its original release probably due to TikTok. Maybe this is why I had it in my head? IDK)

Let’s dance in style, let’s dance for a while
Heaven can wait, we’re only watching the skies
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst
Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don’t have the power, but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
The music’s for the sad men

It’s so hard to get old without a cause
I don’t want to perish like a fading horse
Youth’s like diamonds in the sun
And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn’t happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams swinging out of the blue
We’ll let them come true

Forever young
I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever?
Forever young

So that is a little bit of the lyrics. Not going to analyze or interpret. Just noted that a little bit into the song I started tearing up and feeling emotional. I felt a loss. Of what, I am not sure. Something gone, perhaps irretrievable. I can’t seem to put my finger on it.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. As much as life sucks and with the problems and issues we all deal with quietly and personally, I know that deep down there is something or someone each of us is grateful for. I am going to try to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Wish that didn’t rhyme.
So, in that spirit, a toast to those who have gone before us. To absent friends.