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Friday Coffee Break: Songs About Commitment

Posted at 8:43 AM on September 30, 2011 by Steve Seel (49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Earlier this morning, Jacquie Fuller and I were discussing a new proposal in Mexico that would allow couples to sign a marriage contract that is only two years long (and then renewable, should the couple so choose), rather than "til death do us part". Unsurprisingly, many who favor traditional marriage are up in arms about this, but those proposing the measure see it as a possibly solution to the alarmingly high divorce rate in Mexico.

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for songs about commitment: what are some tunes where the singer proclaims his or her intention (or desire) to remain in a relationship permanently?

Comments (49)

I Only Want to Be with You - Hootie & The Blowfish

Posted by Brandon | September 30, 2011 8:57 AM

Al Green - Let's Stay Together

Love it!

Posted by Damara | September 30, 2011 8:58 AM

The Magnetic Fields - The Book of Love

Posted by Adam | September 30, 2011 8:58 AM

"Book of Love" by Peter Gabriel: "You ought to give me wedding rings." One of my favorites.

Posted by Samantha | September 30, 2011 8:58 AM

Prince - "Forever In My Life"

Posted by Todd | September 30, 2011 8:58 AM

"Stay Together for the Kids" - Blink 182

Posted by Chelsea | September 30, 2011 8:59 AM

One Life Stand - Hot Chip

Love Song - The Cure

Posted by wellst | September 30, 2011 9:00 AM

There is no way in hell this would get played but the perfect song is Ringfinger by NIN.

Just sayin...

Posted by Angie | September 30, 2011 9:00 AM

Avett Brothers- January Wedding. Best Avett Bros song ever. I got married in March so we couldn't use it, but I would have.

Posted by The Dude | September 30, 2011 9:01 AM

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - The Jayhawks

Posted by Christy | September 30, 2011 9:01 AM

Something by the Beatles isn't the best choice, but it's my girlfriend Jenny's favorite song and she melts when I sing it to her. She would cry if she heard a song just for her.

Edward Sharpe - Home
The Raveonettes - Last Dance (being there literally until the end)
The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Foo Fighters - Everlong (maybe?)

Posted by Jarrett B. | September 30, 2011 9:01 AM

Al Green - Let's Stay together

Posted by dc | September 30, 2011 9:04 AM

Take It With Me- Tom Waits

The phone's off the hook, no one knows where we are
It's a long time since I drank champagne
The ocean is blue, as blue as your eyes
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

Old long since gone, now way back when
We lived in Coney Island
There ain't no good thing ever dies
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

Far, far away a train whistle blows
Wherever you're goin', wherever you've been
Waving good bye at the end of the day
You're up and you're over, and you're far away

Always for you, and forever yours
It felt just like the old days
We fell asleep on Beaula's porch
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

All broken down by the side of the road
I was never more alive or alone
I've worn the faces off all the cards
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

The children are playing at the end of the day
Strangers are singing on our lawn
It's got to be more than flesh and bone
All that you've loved is all you own

In a land there's a town, and in that town there's a house
And in that house there's a woman
And in that woman there's a heart I love
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

I'm gonna take it with me when I go

Posted by terry | September 30, 2011 9:05 AM

My anniversary today. 33 years to my beautiful wife Katherine. The song that springs to mind, not that anyone likes it, is... I will allllllllllllllllllllllllllllwayyyyyyyssssssss love you. Whitney Houston , you know.

Posted by Dave Nyseth | September 30, 2011 9:05 AM

Oh! Just thought of another great one...

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hard To Concentrate

Someone used it at a wedding and it brought everyone to tears.

Posted by Jarrett B. | September 30, 2011 9:05 AM

Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John

We Are Each Other - The Beautiful South

Posted by ken | September 30, 2011 9:07 AM

Faithfull - Pearl Jam - It's on Yield

Posted by Joanne | September 30, 2011 9:08 AM

The first things that came to mind..."Faithfully" -- Journey
The second thing that came to mind...
Kip singing "Always & Forever" to Lafawnduh at their wedding in Napoleon Dynamite
(it's on the soundtrack if you have it)

Posted by (JL) | September 30, 2011 9:08 AM

Wedding Bell Blues - 5th Dimension,thanks

Posted by mike patten | September 30, 2011 9:08 AM

Wedding Bell Blues - 5th Dimension
thanks

Posted by mike patten | September 30, 2011 9:11 AM

One of my wedding reception songs was "You're My Home" by Billy Joel.

"Anniversary Song" by the Cowboy Junkies. You won't find a song more perfect for this category.

"Still" - Glenn Tilbrook

"Always Love" - Nada Surf

Posted by cal | September 30, 2011 9:12 AM

We Belong Together - Ritchie Valenz
Wedding Bell Blues - 5th Dimension

Posted by Mel | September 30, 2011 9:13 AM

We Belong Together - Ritchie Valenz
Wedding Bell Blues - 5th Dimension

Posted by Mel | September 30, 2011 9:13 AM

Melt with You, Everclear's I Will Buy You a New Life

Posted by Matt | September 30, 2011 9:14 AM

Atmosphere - She's Enough

Barbara Strisand - Evergreen

Posted by dave | September 30, 2011 9:15 AM

Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel
Whole Love - Wilco

Posted by ken | September 30, 2011 9:16 AM

Ashford & Simpson - "Solid"
Beatles - "And I Love Her"
Beatles - "Two of Us"
Heatwave - "Always and Forever"
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"
Turtles - "So Happy Together"
Stevie Wonder - "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life"
Barry White - "You're the first, the last, my everything!"

Posted by Brent B | September 30, 2011 9:17 AM

Promising, Wilco, Chelsea Walls soundtrack

Posted by Liz | September 30, 2011 9:18 AM

"Do You Remember?" - Jack Johnson
"Love Will Keep Us Together" - The Captain & Tennille

Posted by jo | September 30, 2011 9:18 AM

Dawes - A Little Bit of Everything
The second verse is the most beautiful description of marriage.

Posted by Elise | September 30, 2011 9:20 AM

Promising, Wilco, Chelsea Walls soundtrack

Posted by Liz | September 30, 2011 9:20 AM

Lovesong - The Cure

Posted by eric | September 30, 2011 9:22 AM

A Bird in the Hand-Owen

Posted by Amanda | September 30, 2011 9:24 AM

"Table And Chairs" by The Electric Six

Posted by Ben | September 30, 2011 9:24 AM

Never Gonna Give You Up- Rick Astleyyyyyy

Posted by Ginny | September 30, 2011 9:25 AM

Somebody's Getting Married from Muppets Take Manhattan

Posted by Claire | September 30, 2011 9:27 AM

She's Got It All Worked Out by Semisonic. On the Live At Bryant Lake Bowl album, Dan Wilson gives a whole talk about how freaked out he was about commitment, and his girlfriend was pushing for it, and he wrote this song about how he realized he's no longer afraid of commitment.

Posted by Tauni | September 30, 2011 9:27 AM

The Luckiest - Ben Folds

Posted by Cathryn | September 30, 2011 9:27 AM

Ben Harper - "Forever"

Posted by Kristen | September 30, 2011 9:28 AM

Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes

Posted by Will | September 30, 2011 9:28 AM

A second for Anniversary Song by Cowboy Junkies
and
If I Should Fall Behind - Bruce Springsteen

great topic!

Posted by Ann | September 30, 2011 9:28 AM

Kind of opposite commitment but "Fish & Bird" by Tom Waits
Yes, please, to "Everlong", "I Only Wanna Be With You", and "Stay Together for the Kids". Lots of great suggestions today!

Posted by Topher Boyd | September 30, 2011 9:29 AM

Avett Brothers - January Wedding
Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love
Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good (kind of an anti-commitment song!)

Posted by Betsy | September 30, 2011 9:33 AM

"The Next Time You Say 'Forever'" by Neko Case, just to add a little irony to the coffee break! :)

Posted by Alyssa | September 30, 2011 9:35 AM

The answer is to not get married. I was with my daughters father for 17 years. The commitment was acknowleged but never set in stone. Or ink.

Posted by Angie | September 30, 2011 9:40 AM

how about the white stripes "let's build a home"

Posted by john moore | September 30, 2011 9:44 AM

I Wanna Buy You a Ring by Huffamoose would have been great for this one! Got to it a little late here.

Posted by Aiden | September 30, 2011 9:49 AM

Just wanted to point out, as a person married 22 years this October, that 2 years is not nearly enough time to start to get sick of each other. I'd vote for a five year minimum, whichis about when you are utterly sick to death of behaviors you once found adorable.

Posted by cal | September 30, 2011 9:49 AM

You Were Right by Badly Drawn Boy

Posted by cary | September 30, 2011 9:52 AM

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