Best Relationship Advice from "Open Arms" Journey, 1982

For those that have nothing to hide.

Author

LaDena Kailing Garr
July 09, 2024

Fun fact, find the answer at the bottom of this email.

“Open Arms” held the #2 spot for six consecutive weeks. What two songs kept it from going to #1 on the Billboard Top 100?

Feel-Good Relationship Advice from the Greatest Love Songs!

Wanting to hold you, wanting you near, and willing to do whatever it takes.

For those who have nothing to hide.

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Read time: 5 minutes

Lyrics

Lying beside you here in the dark
Feeling your heartbeat with mine
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere

So now I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me

This is gold. These are the words you long to hear from your Sweetheart. “Nothing to hide, believe what I say”, this vulnerability is powerful.

❝

In 2005 Perry commented on the emotions he felt while producing “Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour, and listening to the band performing the song 24 years previously: "I had to keep my head down on the console when "Open Arms" was on. There is one line in the song that I always wanted to be a certain way. I have ideals about certain things. The line "wanting you near" — I just wanted that line to go up and soar. I wanted it to be heartfelt. Every time it would come by I would just have to keep my head down and try to swallow the lump in my throat. I felt so proud of the song.

by Steve Perry (lead singer of Journey)

Lyrics

How could our love be so blind?

We sailed on together and drifted apart
And here you are, by my side

This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home

But now that you've come back, turned night into day
I need you to stay

When you are seeking to renew a drifting relationship, you must be vulnerable. You must be real. You must be willing to work and sacrifice in order to grow as a couple.

Each must authentically share their own story, connecting and intertwining them in shared memories, some beautiful and some terribly sad. They need me to help them put all the pictures in a visual and emotional scrapbook that they can carry in their minds and hearts forever. It will be the ever-reminder of what they did wrong, and a reminder of their new commitment to each other and the relationship.

In this rebuilding process, they know they must not blame or invalidate for what is in the past but use the lessons learned to not repeat the errors. Recognizing and taking responsibility for what either of them did to contribute to the relationship’s demise is crucial. True and sincere atonement is a miracle behavior that helps the healing process.

This song has been referred to as a wedding anthem, the perfect prom theme, and one of the greatest rock ballads of all time. With the first few measures of this seductive piano, on this timeless waltz, your mind is immediately flooded with sweet memories.

You no doubt have a personal memory with this song. I know I do….

Valentine’s Day 1992: I went with a group of friends to a dance in Palo Alto, California. I had just moved to the Bay Area and was getting to know a lot of new people. One guy in particular stood out to me. He was handsome, polite, and friendly. He asked me to dance. The song was “Open Arms” by Journey. He held me so close during some of the lyrics. We ended up going for a walk, hand in hand, in the rose gardens that surrounded the building.

I married that ‘one guy’.

Mark is true romantic at heart, and I’m so glad our first slow dance was to “Open Arms” because the song checks all the boxes as the perfect theme for a powerful romance.

Anyone else have a great story with this song? Feel free to email me! I’d love to hear it.

❝

It is a rare, conscious person who takes responsibility for their life. That person says, “I’m going to put the time into analyzing this, and always be striving for a more intelligent way to live.” It takes courage. It takes sacrifice.

Think about this…

Have you ever expressed this level of vulnerability with your Sweetheart?

Do you express this kind of gratitude regularly with your Sweetheart?

Do your thoughts and actions express the fact that you show up for your relationship with open arms hoping they see what your love means to them?

Key Take Aways

  • Taking responsibility for growth and for the setbacks in your relationship is crucial.

  • Striving for a more intelligent way to live takes courage and sacrifice.

  • Vulnerability and gratitude are powerful.

Fun Fact Trivia:

“Open Arms” held the #2 spot for six consecutive weeks. What two songs kept it from going to #1 on the Billboard Top 100?

Answer: “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band and “I love rock ‘n roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

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Love is the greatest adventure!

~LaDena

Certified Life Coach