I Will Always Love You

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go but I know, I'll think of you each step of the way

And I will always love you, I will always love you.

Bittersweet memories, that is all I'm taking with me. Good-bye, please don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, you need

And I will always love you, I will always love you

I hope life treats you kind, and I hope you have all you've ever dreamed of. And I wish you joy and happiness, but above all this, I wish you love

And I will always love you. I will always love you. I will always love you. I will always love you. I will always love you. I, I will always love you."

Many people today think of this song as a love song, a wedding song, a happy song. Just like Dolly said in the video, it wasn’t written about romantic love at all. It was written about walking away from a dear dear friend. A breakup song essentially, but with someone other than a lover.

I’ve always loved this song as long as I can remember. As a kid I would belt it out at the top of my lungs, and proudly corrected people when they said that Whitney wrote it. I felt a connection with Dolly, my southern roots, blonde hair, our passion for music and singing all of the things you think about as a kid. Now as an adult I have found that I have an even deeper connection with her; one that has nothing to do with our southern roots or our hair (which mine is no longer blonde). I would have never thought that I would be so deeply moved while singing ‘I Will Always Love You’ in the shower one day.

That’s music for you, it hits you in the gut when you least expect it. This song did just that, it hit me in the gut and brought a slew of emotions that don’t have words to describe. After working through those emotions I finally felt something I haven’t felt in a while. Peace. Peace to let go of my “dear friend”

My dear friend that helped raise me, helped me become the person I am today. I hope to remember the good times over the bad times. The times that they were there for me, not the times that I was forgotten because there was something more important to do. I want to remember the joy that music brought both of us, not the countless times you lied. I want to think about joyous moments in my life, and not the scene that you created, or the fear that I always carried with me that you would create a scene. I put up with all the bullshit that was thrown my way, all the things that shouldn’t have happened.

Now the day has finally come that I’m done. I have to walk away, walk away from trying and crying and calling. The third verse of this song is often left out, but it’s actually the best one. It’s the reason I’m here right now, writing this. Writing how I truly feel.

I hope life treats you kind, and I hope you have all you’ve ever dreamed of. And I wish you joy, and happiness, but above all this I wish you love.

I'm putting aside my anger, my hurt, my disappointment. I can't hold onto it anymore. Just like Dolly, the only thing I'm taking with me is bittersweet memories. Those memories I will still cherish forever. I doubt my dear friend will ever read this, but if he does... I will always love you.

❤️