Heathcote Hill’s “Save The Ones You Love” begins with a melancholy, piano-driven groove. Lyrically, the song starts by questioning the validity of dreams. Then on the chorus, it advises: “It’s a wicked world/Save the ones you love.” Both musically and lyrically, this is an overtly emotional recording.
Sure, it’s unlikely this is some sort of war-torn, third world lament. Instead, it is a modern American song addressing contemporary, first world emotions. After suggesting we save the ones we love, the song then states how these ones we save might eventually save us.
Therefore, there is a strong underlying altruistic element to saving those we care about most. The historic story goes that Russian leader Joseph Stalin, during his crazy attempt to cleanse the nation of all western influences, had all the great doctors killed. But then when he became sick, there wasn’t a doctor left to treat him. This may be nothing more than morbid speculation. However, the principle applies that had Stalin saved the ones he (well, at least needed, if not loved), he might have lived longer. Unquestionably, he may have been a powerful man, but he was not a doctor that could heal himself. The same goes for you and me. We all need each other to survive.
Presumably, this song’s lyric is more about more humane personal relationships than that of Russian dictators and their deceased physicians. The line about how we need to save the ones we love, because of the wicked world, is one that stands out and is also a little troubling. It’s almost as if our role as human beings is about far more than mere self-preservation; we’re also called upon to be our brother’s (or sister’s, as the case may be) keepers.
It’s also noteworthy the way this song compares dreams and altruism. Yes, we all have dreams, and yes, we may desire that all our dreams come true. However, more often than not, dreams are selfish pursuits. Let’s face it, we rarely dream for others. Instead, our dreams are primarily personal. Dreams can also become our obsession, and such an obsession can block us from seeing and feeling the pain of others. Bruce Springsteen once sang: “Is a dream alive if it don’t come true? /Or is it something worse?” Dreams can put is in an insular, isolated world of our own making.
The musical arrangement for “Save The Ones You Love” is relatively simple. It begins with an unusual beeping keyboard, before a soft guitar riff and piano rhythm take hold. The song’s sonic thrust is that of meditative thoughtfulness. It’s sung in such a way that it prompts the listener to do a little self-reflection. What relationships do you have with the ones you truly love? Are you noticing how they’re fairing in this wicked world? Are you too self-focused to even see if the ones you love, the ones you love the very most, are struggling to get by?
Songs like “Save The Ones You Love” are rare. Most popular songs revolve around romantic pursuits of some sort, or the desolation of such relationships. Lyrics about friendships, which is at the heart of “Save The Ones You Love,” are outliers. Nevertheless, this song is an outlier of the best variety.
https://www.heathcotehill.net/
-Dan MacIntosh
