Journey - Open Arms - Lyrics Meaning
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This song was the third single on Journey's seventh album, ``Escape,'' which was released in January 1982. Written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, it reached #2 on the Billboard Top 100 chart, where it stayed for six weeks.
So here I am with open arms, hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms
Considered one of rock music's great power ballads (VH1 rated it #1 on their 25 Greatest Power Ballads list), the song is also described by some as a ``wedding anthem.''
The song describes the difficulties faced by lovers who had drifted apart but are now coming back together. The narrator speaks of his renewed commitment to maintaining an open and honest relationship with his love.
While still a member of the rock group, The Babies, Cain started writing the song. When Babies' vocalist John Waite heard it, however, he called the melody ``sentimental rubbish.'' In the end, Cain and Perry finalized the song during writing sessions for ``Escape.''
Once complete, ``Open Arms'' still almost missed the album because guitarist Neal Schon apparently despised the song. Drummer Steve Smith, in the VH1 special ``Behind the Music - Journey,'' recollected that Schon said that it ``sounded kinda Mary Poppins.''
Thankfully, the song was released and the rest is history. No doubt many a Journey fan found it `practically perfect in every way' - just like Mary Poppins.