Story Behind The Song

I used to work at a convalescent hospital and witnessed the beautiful love story described in the song. I just had to write about it.

Song Description

An older man visits his wife at a rest home every day. She has alzheimers and he is told she doesn't know him. He knows different simply by looking into her eyes. He dresses up for her because he knows that's what she likes and he sits on the bed and reminisces about their past while she rocks back and forth in front of the window, clutching her little doll to her breast.

Lyrics

ALWAYS

1st verse
HE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AGAIN
AS HE'S DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE
THE OLD PICKUP SHIVERED AS IT ROLLED TO ITS STOP
AND THE OLD MAN PREPARED HIMSELF ONCE MORE

HE RAN HIS ANCIENT FINGERS OR HIS FRAYED AND FADED JACKET
AND PATTED DOWN HIS YELLOWED HAIR
THEN HE WIPED HIS EYES AND FLASHED
AN EAGER SMILE INTO THE MIRROR
STRAIGHTENING HIS TIE WITH CARE

chorus
I LOVE YOU TODAY AS I LOVED YOU THEN
WHEN WE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE HAND IN HAND
THEY SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I'VE LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES
AND I KNOW...I KNOW YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BRIDE

2nd verse
HE FOUND HER SITTING BY THE WINDOW, SMILING AT THE WALL
HER LITTLE DOLL WAS CLUTCHED AGAINST HER BREAST
WITH TENDERNESS HE KISSED HER HANDS
AND BRUSHED HER SILVER HAIR
THEN THE OLD MAN SAT DOWN TO REST

HE WATCHED HER AS SHE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH IN THE SUNLIGHT
AND LOST HIMSELF IN MEMORIES OF YORE
THEY WERE DANCING IN THE KITCHEN AS THEY'D DONE SO MANY TIMES
HE COULD HEAR THEIR LAUGHTER FILL THE HOUSE ONCE MORE

chorus
HE SAID....I LOVE YOU TODAY AS I LOVED YOU THEN
WHEN WE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE HAND IN HAND
THEY SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER BUT I'VE LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES
AND I KNOW YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BRIDE

3rd verse
SHE WAS KNEELING IN THE GARDEN, SUNLIGHT DANCING OFF HER HAIR
(spoken)
AH, SHE COULD LIGHT UP HIS FACE WITH HER SMILE
IT WAS HER STRENGTH THAT KEPT THEM GOING
THROUGH THE BITTER AND THE SWEET
(sung) )
AND HER LOVING HEART THAT MADE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

AS THE PAST BECAME THE WORLD AROUND HIM,
DAY TURNED INTO NIGHT
ONCE AGAIN IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOOD-BY
SO HE WRAPPED HER SHAWL AROUND HER
STROKED HER CHEEK WITH TENDER FINGERS, SAYING...
(spoken) )
I'LL BE BACK MY DARLING, DON'T YOU CRY.
(sung)
(chorus)
I LOVE YOU TODAY AS I LOVED YOU THEN
WHEN WE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE HAND IN HAND
THEY SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I'VE LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES
AND I KNOW...I KNOW YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BRIDE