With You Beside Me

words & music by Doug Howell (1/74)

with you around it all seems new
I don’t know what to say
or what to do
and deep within my heart
I always knew that
someday I would love you
and why you love the likes
of me I’ll never ever know
with you around it all seems new

since I met you it’s all worthwhile
and all it takes from you
is one sweet smile
and if I had to walk a thousand miles
I’d find a way to fly there
and if you’ll take my hand
then we won’t face the world alone
since I met you it’s all worthwhile

with you beside me I can’t sleep
I’ve gotta stay awake
to hear you breathe
and deep within my soul
I’ve gotta keep
the gentle sound your heart makes
and I wanna be there to smile for you
when all your dreams are gone
there’s nothing left to do but weep
with you beside me I can’t sleep

1975 Notes

A producer recently called this a secular song. Begging his pardon, it is not a secular song. It is a Christian song. I am a Christian. To me, Christ is everything of value and everything of value is Christ. To explain this song would be too long a story. So just let me say it’s a love song. And who else can a love song be about?

Ephesians 5:32

2005 Notes

Read my notes on “Bluer” and you’ll understand this one a lot better. As I read the original notes for this song again, I find I still agree with them. They’re still true. But if I said this now, my motivation for saying it would be totally different. It would be said with less smug matter-of-factness and less defensiveness, and a lot more wonder. It’s the compartmentalization thing again. I think the longer I live, the harder it gets for me to think of anything as merely secular. That never was an easy one for me to buy, and now I’d say it’s pretty much impossible.

And in case you think I’m getting way too ethereal again, let me throw you a human tidbit: the person who inspired this song inspired at least three songs on this album. Maybe more.