About the song
In the realm of country music, Faron Young stands as a true icon, his rich baritone voice and poignant lyrics captivating audiences for decades. Among his many enduring hits, “Occasional Wife” holds a special place, resonating deeply with listeners who have experienced the complexities of love and loss.
Released in 1970, “Occasional Wife” paints a vivid portrait of a crumbling relationship, where the protagonist grapples with the fading embers of a once-burning love. The song’s opening lines, “If our life is worth living together then why let it go / If our love’s worth saving it needs some attention to grow,” set the stage for a heartfelt plea for reconciliation.
Young’s voice, imbued with emotion, carries the weight of the lyrics, each word a testament to the pain of unfulfilled love. The verses chronicle the couple’s growing distance, their hearts drifting apart like ships lost at sea. The protagonist laments their partner’s detachment, yearning for the days when their love was strong and vibrant.
The chorus serves as a poignant refrain, capturing the essence of the song’s message: “You’re an occasional wife, an occasional friend / You’re an occasional lover, and that’s all I can pretend.” These words encapsulate the profound sadness of a love that has dwindled to mere fragments, leaving behind a hollow shell of what once was.
Despite the melancholic tone, “Occasional Wife” offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that with effort and understanding, the relationship could be salvaged. The protagonist’s plea, “If we can find a way to mend the broken pieces / Maybe we can save our love, maybe we can start afresh,” echoes through the song, a beacon of possibility amidst the despair.
The song’s ending leaves the listener with a sense of wistful contemplation, pondering the fate of the couple and the enduring power of love. “Occasional Wife” stands as a testament to Faron Young’s artistry, his ability to craft songs that resonate with the deepest human emotions. It is a ballad that lingers long after the final note has faded, a reminder of the fragility of love and the enduring hope for reconciliation.
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Lyrics
If our life is worth living together then why let it go
If our love’s worth saving it needs some attention to grow
It needs more than just an occasional piece of your life
A home just can’t stand when it has an occasional wife
The name of the game you’re playing must be
See how far you can go
But can’t you see what it’s doing to me
And the world we both used to know
If our life is worth living together then why let it go
If our love’s worth saving it needs some attention to grow
It needs more than just an occasional piece of you life
A home just can’t stand when it has an occasional wife
A home just can’t stand when it has an occasional wife