If you are not too long, I will wait for you all my life. – Oscar Wilde
Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s quote “If you are not too long, I will wait for you all my life”, we ponder the meaning of faithfulness? There is the famous story of Hachiko, the loyal Akita who kept up his daily routine of going to Shibuya station in Tokyo to meet his owner for over nine years after the man had passed away. Then there is the faithfulness one might have toward the God of your understanding. However, we’re more interested in faithfulness in a relationship. A romantic faithfulness, or lack thereof, has been the fodder of song lyrics for ages. To that end, the following post regarding the band Journey’s song ‘Faithfully‘ says it all.
Faithfulness is always romantic. The story is a common one in Rock n’ Roll. The band goes on a grueling road trip, and we get to hear how difficult it is (particularly on the lead singer). But this song is not about how difficult the road is on Steve Perry, rather it is about the toll “being a music man” takes on his wife and family. To talk about being faithful while you’re in a rock n’ roll band is not the coolest thing that a rocker can talk about, but it is certainly one of the more romantic things. Unfaithfulness is the easy way, while faithfulness takes valor and courage. At any rate, his focus is on what this is doing to his wife. The song is in many ways an ode of gratitude to her for sticking it out with him through it all, and a pledge of faithfulness, which is no small matter out on the road. Perhaps the most unique insight in the song is the unusual benefit that comes from being apart for such long periods of time; “Being apart ain’t easy on this love affair. Two strangers learn to fall in love again. I get the joy of rediscovering you. Oh girl, you stand by me. I’m forever yours… faithfully.” …via The 25 Most Romantic Songs of the Past 40 Years | Man in the Woods
Yes, faithfulness is always romantic and it is the emotional stuff of songs from Frank Sinatra to Justin Timberlake. It is to the plot of classic operas and soap operas, literature and tardy romance novels. Indeed, love and the hope that it will proceed happily ever after, is the stuff of fairy tales simply because it is a basic human desire. Faithfully yours.
