Proclaiming love

2 * 500 = Love

One of my daughters once told her partner that whatever shortcomings her dad had, he was reliable in a crisis. No matter how far she was from me, I would go to her aid.

On television on Friday evening I heard for the first time a song from the 1980s by The Proclaimers, a Scot Band. The song is about a man (the singers are brothers) who proclaims love until death for his mate. Interestingly for this modern age, the gender of the beloved is not stated. References to financial support and loyalty despite aging implies heterosexual love, but it need not be read that way. It need not be about sexual passion at all. One can wake up next to someone who in a platonic relationship - I think that just means that one wants to see the person at the start of each day. This song is a poem about one persons' love for another, and that is its power.

"But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door."

The thing about walking a thousand miles is that it will take weeks of time and, for ordinary folk, is no trivial expense. And, in the end, isn't it time one dedicates that spells out ones dedication or devotion to a person; to a project; to anything?

The song was a hit for the Proclaimers and has come out as a Comic Relief CD.

We all need to feel loved for life to have full meaning. On this Mother's Day in the UK, I have taken the liberty of adjusting the lyrics for gender.

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The Proclaimers

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - Lyrics amended for gender

When I wake up yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who wakes up next to you
When I go out yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who goes along with you

If I get drunk yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who's havering to you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the woman who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm working yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who's working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I'll do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you

When I come home yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who comes back home to you
And if I grow old well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman who's growing old with you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the woman who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm lonely yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the woman whose lonely without you
When I'm dreaming yes I know I'm gonna dream
Dream about the time when I'm with you.

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the woman who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door.

Footnote (sic)

"And if I haver yeah, I know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the person who's havering to you..."

Haver means to chatter foolishly, and havering to someone would include sharing thoughts, dreams and hopes. Kind of like my Quotidian Hopes' blog then ...