Forever and Ever, Amen

Forever and Ever, Amen

A friend of mine suggested I learn Randy Travis’s version of “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and being as it was a song I already had thought of learning, it seemed like a good fit for my next song study. This #1 hit was written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz^[1], a duo with an impressive songwriting resume. Another #1 the duo penned together is Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All,” which I swear has been stuck in my head ever since rediscovering it as I was learning “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.”

From the religious “Amen” at the end of the chorus to the theme of a playboy straightened out after meeting the right woman, “Forever and Ever, Amen” is full of emotional hooks aimed right at the country and western audience. Can you imagine the girls hearing young Randy Travis telling them he’s going to love them even after their hair falls out? I imagine there was more than one who couldn’t handle it. Even Dolly Parton seemed pretty smitten when Randy came onto the scene.

One of the things about this song that I’ve found notable is just how smooth it is. It comes in, runs its verse-chorus, verse-chorus course, repeats the last line, and is over. There isn’t too much in the way of dynamics. Or there is a lot, from the electric guitar, dobro and steel to the background vocals, but they’re so subtle in relation to the bopping backbeat that it feels pretty one-level. Yet its story, its singalongability and Randy’s delivery just sold it all the way.

One interesting thing I noticed in this song is that one of the hooks involves a change to the II chord in the verse.  I feel like those slightly-less-than-expected changes really work to make a melody that’s interesting and holds the listeners’ attention. I tend to write from the vocal melody first, just filling the accompaniment chords in as support for the melody I’ve dreamed up. I wonder, though, if throwing a II or a VII chord into the mix in the middle of a verse might help out the melody and the song.

Anyway, here’s a pretty rough cut of “Forever and Ever, Amen.”