This beautiful love song captures so many levels of love. Using present tense in the first stanza, we hear the gift of the eternal love (1st line- who knows how long) and enduring love (2nd line still). Then, in seeming contradiction, there is a hint of unrequited love (3rd line - I wait), which resolves triumphantly in committed love (4th line - I will). Using subjunctive mood, the second stanza introduces the possibility that the beloved has already appeared unbeknownst. The third stanza again resolves the ambiguity of the second with a stirring committed, complete love. The last stanza clarifies that the love is not yet known, but confidently asks the beloved to reveal the self (sing your song loud), knowing that the person will be lovable (things you do endear me). This yearning stanza resolves with the commitment that transforms and elevates the promise of commitment from the traditional “I do” to the eternal “I will.” If you are moved by John Lennon’s beautiful words, listen too to Alison Kraus’s interpretation.
This beautiful love song captures so many levels of love. Using present tense in the first stanza, we hear the gift of the eternal love (1st line- who knows how long) and enduring love (2nd line still). Then, in seeming contradiction, there is a hint of unrequited love (3rd line - I wait), which resolves triumphantly in committed love (4th line - I will). Using subjunctive mood, the second stanza introduces the possibility that the beloved has already appeared unbeknownst. The third stanza again resolves the ambiguity of the second with a stirring committed, complete love. The last stanza clarifies that the love is not yet known, but confidently asks the beloved to reveal the self (sing your song loud), knowing that the person will be lovable (things you do endear me). This yearning stanza resolves with the commitment that transforms and elevates the promise of commitment from the traditional “I do” to the eternal “I will.” If you are moved by John Lennon’s beautiful words, listen too to Alison Kraus’s interpretation.