Neal Schon | Through the Shattered Lens

There’s something about nostalgia that hits differently. It gets a bad rap sometimes—mostly because it can make us label anything from our past as a “classic” just because it’s tied to some fond memory. But when it’s genuine, nostalgia can feel like stepping back into a moment you never wanted to end.

That’s exactly what today’s “Song of the Day” does—it stirs up those feelings of the past and reminds me why some songs never lose their magic. I’m talking about one of the all-time great power ballads: Journey’s “Open Arms.”

Released in 1982 on Journey’s seventh album, Escape, the song was an instant hit, both on the radio and in their arena shows. “Open Arms” quickly became the rock power ballad—the one all others get compared to. Like any good ballad, it’s about losing love and finding it again. Honestly, I don’t know anyone—no matter their music taste—who hasn’t slow danced to this song at least once.

It wasn’t exactly the go-to tune at my high school dances, but I definitely heard it plenty once I was older—at weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. The song’s staying power comes from more than just its lyrics—it’s Steve Perry’s voice. His delivery is powerful without feeling overdone or corny. There’s this sincerity in his singing, like he’s sharing something deeply personal, and that’s what gives the song its timeless emotional pull.

Open Arms

Lying beside you
here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mine

Softly you whisper
you’re so sincere
How could our love be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

So now I come to you
with open arms
Nothing to hide
believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you’ll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Living without you
living alone
This empty house seems so cold

Wanting to hold you
wanting you near

How much I want you home
But now that you’ve come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay

So now I come to you
with open arms
Nothing to hide
believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you’ll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Back in junior high in the early ’80s, Faithfully dropped in 1983 on Journey’s Frontiers album, and those haunting piano chords instantly hooked us during slow skates or late-night mix tapes. Steve Perry’s raw, soaring voice captured the ache of young love stretching across town, turning everyday pangs into something profound. Even by 1988, deep into high school, it had evolved into a staple power ballad at dances and teen parties, standing tall among the era’s anthems.

What elevated it to one of Journey’s all-time greatest was its blend of emotional depth and universal appeal—highways symbolizing distance, hearts straining but vowing “to be there faithfully,” all without the bombast of hair metal excess. It felt authentic, perfect for those fog-shrouded bus rides home, fueling dreams amid neon-lit awkwardness. Rock historians often hail it as the pinnacle of ’80s power ballads, outshining peers with its sincerity and that unforgettable guitar climb.

Hearing it today still transports me to cassette decks and feathered hair, a true time capsule of innocence. Journey mastered crafting songs that promised soul-deep connection against all odds, cementing Faithfully as their crown jewel and the era’s ballad benchmark.

Faithfully

Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go ’round and ’round, you’re on my mind
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sendin’ all my love along the wire

They say that the road ain’t no place to start a family
Right down the line it’s been you and me
And lovin’ a music man ain’t always what it’s supposed to be
Oh, girl you stand by me, I’m forever yours, faithfully

Circus life under the big top world
We all need the clowns to make us smile
Through space and time, always another show
Wondering where I am lost without you

And bein’ apart ain’t easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh girl, you stand by me, I’m forever yours, faithfully

Faithfully, I’m still yours
I’m forever yours, ever yours
Faithfully