One of the greatest songs ever written. 

 

I had the honor of being at a wedding in the mid-70s  where Kenny Loggins played music for my friends Nancy Morgan and John Ritter at their wedding in LA. It was a beautiful song then. It is even a more beautiful song today. Recorded in the home studios of Daryl Hall.

It was released in 1979 as the lead single from his 1979 album Keep the Fire. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart. “This Is It” was also successful on the Hot Soul Singles chart, reaching number 19, it was one of two entries on this chart. The song features additional vocals by Michael McDonald, who co-wrote the song with Loggins. The song won a Grammy Award in 1981 for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.

At one point in the song’s evolution, its melody was underway, but the lyrics were incomplete. Loggins moved it forward after a visit to his ailing father, who had undergone a series of surgeries for vascular problems stemming from small strokes and was discouraged at the prospect of another. His perspective on the lyrics then changed.

“I’ve got it,” he announced to McDonald. “It’s not a love song. It’s a life song.”

A song for his father.

And, a song for our parents. Our family.

One of the most powerful song’s ever written.

A song that challenges the status quo.

Not only by its powerful words but also by the melodies and rhythms of the song.

One of the best examples in the above video.

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This Is It/Lyrics

There’ve been times in my life,
I’ve been wonderin’ why
Still, somehow I believed we’d always survive
Now, I’m not so sure
You’re waiting here, one good reason to try
But, what more can I say? What’s left to provide?
Are you gonna wait for a sign, your miracle?
Stand up and fight
Make no mistake where you are
(This is it)
You back’s to the corner
(This is it)
Don’t be a fool anymore
(This is it)
The waiting is over, no, don’t you run
No way to hide
No time for wonderin’ why
It’s here, the moment is now, about to decide
Let ’em believe
Leave ’em behind
But keep me near in your heart
Know whatever you do, I’m here by your side
For once in your life, here’s your miracle
Stand up and fight
Make no mistake where you are
(This is it)
You’re goin’ no further
(This is…