I’ve been in need of a new set of songs for my commute lately, so I recently bought a CD of 1980s new wave tunes for shits and giggles and one of the tracks turned out to be a tune I probably haven’t heard SINCE the 1980s. It’s Howard Jones and his 1985 neo-soul classic, “Things Can Only Get Better.” This track is so good that when I listen to it, I’m almost tempted to believe it. But as soon as the song’s over, the real world creeps in and I realize that this new wave anthem of youth and idealism was all just a beautiful dream. (It’s too bad Howard’s hair couldn’t have also been a dream– that shit was for real.)
security thrown through the wall–
future dreams we have to realize.
A thousand skeptic hands
won’t keep us from the things we plan,
unless we’re clinging to the things we prize.
And do you feel scared? (I do.)
But I won’t stop and falter.
And if we threw it all away,
things can only get better.
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Treating today as though it was
the last, the final show–
get to sixty and feel no regret.
It may take a little time–
a lonely path, an uphill climb.
Success or failure will not alter it.
And do you feel scared? (I do.)
But I won’t stop and falter.
And if we threw it all away,
things can only get better.
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
And do you feel scared? (I do.)
But I won’t stop and falter.
And if we threw it all away,
things can only get better.
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa oh-oh-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-whoa oh-oh-oh
(Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh-oh whoa-whoa whoa-oh-oh
