Things We’re All Too Young To Know — Behind the Story

I suppose the easy interpretation for this story is the cliché “you don’t know what you’ve got until its gone.” That certainly works and we can leave it at that.

But I was going for something a little different with this story.

In 1993 Billy Joel released his River of Dreams album and while the song “All About Soul” only reached no. 29 on the US charts, I fell in love with it immediately. Since you’ve read the story, I think you will recognize the impact of the lyrics:

“It’s all about soul

It’s all about faith and a deeper devotion

It’s all about soul

‘Cause under love there is a stronger emotion.”

There are other lyrics in the song that appeal to me just as much, but something about the idea that under love is a stronger emotion didn’t want to let go of me. What could possibly be stronger than love? What in the world is Billy talking about? I’m still not sure I know, but I’m nagged with the thought that there might be some truth in the lyric.

Then I was DJ’ing my sister-in-law’s wedding reception and asked for lists of songs—ones that were “must haves” and ones that were “no, never!!” That’s when I came across Peter Gabriel’s version of “The Book of Love,” written by Stephin Merrit of The Magnetic Fields. Listen to these lyrics (from which I took the title for my story):

“The book of love is long and boring

And written very long ago

It’s full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes

And thing’s we’re all too young to know.”

That last line there. <chef’s kiss> The idea that no matter how old and wise we become, how intelligent we think we are, love is still a mystery that no one can fully understand or explain. I think about the wisest man I know, and for some reason it makes me smile to think that even to him, the ways of love are not easily revealed.

I have several other songs I could reference here (if you’re a fan of Elton John and Pat Benatar’s music, you’ve probably already found them in this story as well) but I think you get the idea. Lyrics matter to me. Sometimes I get teased by friends and asked, “Don’t you ever just listen to a song for the fun of it?” Certainly, I do. I can name … I dunno … at least half a dozen songs. Like the B52’s “Love Shack.” I just don’t see those songs having the same impact on me as the ones that combine nearly perfect music with exquisite lyrics.

Charlie and Betty’s story is a complicated one, but reminds us that, on a daily basis, we need choose to be with our partners, reminding us that the paper cuts of indifference and complacency will surely do damage over time.

I picture Charlie and Betty sitting in bed with pillows stacked against the headboard, holding hands, and watching a great romance, like Key Largo, with Bogart and Bacall facing down the gangster Johnny Rocco as a hurricane rages. (Sorry. Snuck in another musical reference … ) May the remainder of their days always be so.

As always, thanks for reading.

—Phillip

(Wait! One more! How about Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer”?)