A “hopeless romantic,” I was in one of my “mushy” moods sometime last week while hosting my regular afternoon show over 99.9 DZWR Country FM. Out of the many songs I played during my show, a single by country balladeer Collin Raye tickled my emotions “to the brink.”
The feeling of loving, being loved, and yes…the sensation that comes with true love is simply incomparable. This is what I murmured to myself while intently listening to the Collin Raye single entitled: “LOVE ME.”
Just like in a fairy tale or soap opera, the song relates about a love that lasted for more than a lifetime.
Man!!! I never thought that I was such a “romantic” (and hopeless at that) until the moment I caught myself delving deeper into the song as its melody serenaded hearts via the airwaves.
The first stanza of the song relates a typical situation of lovers even until today:
“I read a note my grandma wrote back in nineteen twenty-three.
Grandpa kept it in his coat, and he showed it once to me. he said,
boy, you might not understand, but a long, long time ago,
Grandma's daddy didn't like me none, but I loved your grandma so."
Though the setting was way back in the twenties, lovers of today may definitely relate to the feeling of not being wanted by the parents of their fiancées. The challenge of being unwanted existed then as it exists today.
I guess there are certain facets of love relationships that remain unchanged throughout the years. I remember of a buddy who would go through almost impossible feats just to spend a quiet moment by the lake with his girlfriend; or a lady who go as far as filing a leave from work just to be able to share a few cups of coffee with her boyfriend; or a student who would spend hours in the library, or should I say “love-rary” only to be able to “hold-hands” with his girlfriend because it happened to be the only place in the university where his girlfriend’s “bullish-big-brother” won’t go….yes, many lovers go through so amusing extents just prove their love for each other.
As the Collin Raye song unfolded through the airwaves, so did the “heart-touching” love story:
“We had this crazy plan to meet and run away together.
Get married in the first town we came to, and live forever.
But nailed to the tree where we were supposed to meet, instead
Of her, i found this letter, and this is what it said:
If you get there before i do, don't give up on me.
I'll meet you when my chores are through;
I don't know how long i'll be.
But i'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.
And between now and then, till i see you again,
I'll be loving you. love, me.”
This part of the song reminded me of some friends and buddies who went through similar trials before finally settling down. The song reminded me of sincerity, honesty, and truthfulness.
In a way, the song also reminded me of history; of the many trials and challenges faced by our ancestors and early leaders; on their sincerity to make our communities, towns, cities, regions, and the country as a whole into a much better place to live in.
If only our ancestors who fought for our freedom, who established our towns and cities, and brought recognition to our communities could see that certain officials in power don’t seem to be as truthful, sincere, and honest as they project themselves to be; then I am pretty sure that those ancestors of ours would find ways to rekindle the “flames of patriotism and love” for fellow citizens which guided them during the “darker ages” of our society.
Similar to falling in love, the relationship between people and leaders are founded on a “bond of trust and confidence.” History and observation however indicate that the “bond” has been “traditionally” breached by no less than some of those who are seated or appointed into power.
The once a promising and sincere relationship is normally blemished by graft and corrupt practices. A simple example would be the “hypocrites” in power who talk about the illegal numbers game “jueteng” as if it were a “despicable disease” when “inside sources” claim that some of these politicians and officers “bag” hundreds of thousands a month from the illegal operation.
Tsk, tsk, tsk…and I they claimed to LOVE their community as “precious” parts of their beings whenever they campaigned for office; or when they swore to uphold the highest levels of integrity upon acceptance of certain posts. You see my friends although I am a “hopeless romantic,” I too am a public servant at heart, and so I can’t avoid it but relate that both love affairs and public service are anchored on trust and confidence among others.
Anyway, let’s get back to the wonderful ballad of Collin Raye before we get too political again:
I read those words just hours before my grandma passed away,
In the doorway of a church where me and grandpa stopped to pray.
I know i'd never seen him cry in all my fifteen years;
But as he said these words to her, his eyes filled up with tears.
If you get there before i do, don't give up on me.
I'll meet you when my chores are through;
I don't know how long i'll be.
But i'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.
And between now and then, till i see you again,
I'll be loving you. love, me.
Between now and then, till i see you again,
I'll be loving you. love, me
As the ballad began to end, my heart and mind were filled with mixed emotions and thoughts.. I finally said to myself: “if only all love affairs could be as truthful and sincere as that depicted in the song, then there would be a lot less broken families and love will flourish;” and “if only all politicians, leaders, and officials would be genuinely sincere, dignified, and uphold the integrity of posts they are appointed to, then graft and corruption will be nothing but a thing of the past and true love for communities, fellow citizens, and the country will truly flourish.” Then, and only then may we claim that public service and public interest is truly being served.
Should public service and the relationship between the people and politicians or leaders, as well as appointed officials reach such ideal levels; then it would be similar to a an “everlasting love affair” which would be worth cherishing by the citizens of today and the generations to come.
