Well, I can’t say that any song lyric has stuck with me forever. I was a child back in the 1960s, so I can remember some kids songs, such as How Much is that Doggy in the Window and some Irish and British Eurovision songs. Then, I got into pop music as an older kid in the 1970s.
I remember this one from 1975/1976. What struck me was how unusual it was. Most songs back in 1976 were either about romance or were bitter punky protest songs.
This one was about struggles with alcohol – about someone who was in the struggle rather than someone who overcame it.
I thought of him as an old guy. I was 14 at the time, and he had been a 1960s star. He was the lead vocalist with Amen Corner, who had hits such as If Paradise was Half as Nice and Bend Me Shape Me. He really did struggle with alcoholism. Nowadays, he serves as an official ambassador for Turn Up For Recovery, a charitable organization founded by Melia Clapton (wife of Eric Clapton) that supports individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
He didn’t come across as a “Goody Two Shoes”. He seemed a cool guy. I never had problems with alcohol, but it was nice to be made aware of the dangers by a rock star back when I was 14. So many of my heroes at that time were into dangerous lifestyles. I was glad to hear that he supported Eric Clapton in a recent concert in Dublin, and he’s doing his own concert there later this year.
Spiritually, Abide with Me, has stuck with me for many years. I first heard it on a gospel record that my parents happened to buy back in 1970. And now that I’m oldish myself, the song means so much more to me. I particularly like the following line:
Change and decay in all around I see,
O Thou who changest not, Abide with me
Hibernia Gospel 
Soul Echoes
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One song that has stuck with me forever is “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” best song ever by Led Zeppelin:
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to Heaven
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to Heaven
There’s a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, makes me wonder
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the West
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, really makes me wonder
And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter
Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now
It’s just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on
And it makes me wonder
Ohh, whoa
Your head is humming, and it won’t go, in case you don’t know
The piper’s calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow? And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one, and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll
And she’s buying a stairway to Heaven!
Makes me cry every time I hear it!
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