But now that you’ve come back/
Turned night into day/
I need you to stay.

The main strength of Journey’s “Open Arms” lies with the strong piano intro. The piano score throughout is quite good. It is so recognizable and so beautiful- very few songs are comparable. Maybe “You are so Beautiful” by Joe Cocker, but not many. “Open Arms” tells the story of a love taken for granted.

In the beginning, things seemed to be going great but the love was “blind”. The couple ended up drifting apart. He ends up living alone and doesn’t enjoy the cold nights and misses having her in his arms. And now he is reaching out to her. The theme of Journey’s “Open Arms” is “I’m sorry, take me back.” It is not clear whether or not his plea works but the song sounds hopeful.

Open Arms Lyrics

Lying beside you
Here in the dark,
Feeling your heartbeat with mine.

Softly you whisper,
You’re so sincere.
How could our love be so blind?

We sailed on together,
We drifted apart.
And here you are
By my side.

So now I come to you
With open arms,
Nothing to hide,
Believe what I say

So here I am
With open arms.
Hoping you’ll see
What your love means to me.
Open arms.

Living without you-
Living alone.
This empty house seems so cold.

Wanting to hold you,
Wanting you near.
How much I wanted you home.

But now that you’ve come back,
Turned night into day.
I need you to stay.

So now I come to you
With open arms.
Nothing to hide,
Believe what I say.

So here I am
With open arms.
Hoping you’ll see
What your love means to me.
Open arms.

written by Journey: Steve Parry, Jonathan Cain

It matters how this ends/
Cause what if I never love again?

Adele’s “All I Ask” is about a relationship that is at an end. On this last night together Adele asks her man that they treat each other kindly cause what if they never find love again? Even if they are just pretending…that is enough for her. And she knows it would be pretending…by the look in his eyes she can tell that he doesn’t love her anymore.

She will revisit this theme in another song on this list. It is a unique feeling that I have not heard many (any?) other artists express, but two of Adele’s great songs are about this very theme. Adele’s voice can elevate any song to another level, and this is both well-written and beautifully sung.

Adele’s “All I Ask” is one of the more recent songs on this Top 500 Greatest Song List. It is admittedly easier to judge songs as they age. Can you still enjoy a song after hearing it 50 times? That is a great song. Songs in the 2010s will have a more difficult time getting on this list…but many still made it! It has been a good decade for music.

Adele may be the biggest superstar of this past decade, but I will argue there is one person higher…but it is close…and I would certainly be fine with anyone who argues that Adele will be the biggest star alive.

All I Ask Lyrics

I will leave my heart at the door
I won’t say a word
They’ve all been said before you know
So why don’t we just play pretend
Like we’re not scared of what’s coming next
Or scared of having nothing left

Look, don’t get me wrong
I know there is no tomorrow
All I ask is

If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I’m more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
‘Cause what if I never love again?

I don’t need your honesty
It’s already in your eyes
And I’m sure my eyes, they speak for me
No one knows me like you do
And since you’re the only one that matters
Tell me who do I run to?

Look, don’t get me wrong
I know there is no tomorrow
All I ask is

If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I’m more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
‘Cause what if I never love again?

Let this be our lesson in love
Let this be the way we remember us
I don’t wanna be cruel or vicious
And I ain’t asking for forgiveness
All I ask is

If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I’m more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
‘Cause what if I never love again?

Songwriters: Adele Laurie Adkins / Bruno Mars / Christopher Brown / Philip Lawrence

I had a girl/
Donna was her name.
Since she left me/
I’ve never been the same.

One of the things the things about this top 500 list that is different from Rolling Stones Top 500 list is the value of songs from the 1950s. So many of Rollng Stones songs from the 50s have aged poorly-even if we can appreciate their contribution to the history of rock. “Donna” is that much more impressive; it was written in 1958. It has aged well.

Valens would die at 17, along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. It is hard to imagine what his career would have been had he lived. As is, he is a worthy member of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame who died at 17. Crazy.

The power of “Donna” is that it is a love song about a guy who lost a girl. The melody is gorgeous in both the verse and bridge. This is another example of a song with a strong bridge that does not feel tacked on, but feels woven into the song and essential to the song. The lyrics feel simple- but not in a bad way.  I imagine if Donna heard this she would be receptive to a reconciliation!

Donna Lyrics

Oh, Donna, oh, Donna
Oh, Donna, oh, Donna

I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she left me
I’ve never been the same
‘Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?

Now that you’re gone
I’m left all alone
All by myself
To wander and roam
‘Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?

Well, darlin’, now that you’re gone
I don’t know what I’ll do
All time and all my love for you

I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she left me
I’ve never been the same
‘Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?

Where can you be?
Oh, Donna, oh, Donna
Oh, Donna, oh, Donna
Oh

Songwriters: Ritchie Valens