Dear readers,

I enjoyed these two hit songs on the modern theme of living forever. I want to share these popular music videos, and their concepts.

Ultimately, their lyrics move toward a perspective that reflects my own optimistic, positive outlook on what is possible.

The choruses include the phrases “Move towards the future” and “I want to live forever, now’s the time to find out.” Both songs reiterate: “We are going to live forever.” I believe that a shared common goal of longevity is powerful.

I’ve included the lyrics to both songs below.

— Ray Kurzweil

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about | Hip hop recording artist Shadrach Kabango, known popularly as Shad, and Dallas Green of City and Colour, sing “Live Forever” from their collaboration album Two Songs.

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about | Oasis sings “Live Forever” from their album Definitely Maybe.

Oasis | Released in 1994, Definitely Maybe was Oasis’s debut album and became an immediate commercial and critical hit. It went platinum seven times, and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. From the early 1990s, Oasis recorded countless songs across eight albums. They defined a generation and continue to influence musicians around the globe.

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related reading:
Wikipedia | Dallas Green
Wikipedia | City and Colour
Wikipedia | Shadrach Kabango

City and Colour | main
City and Colour | YouTube channel

Shadrach Kabango | main
Shadrach Kabango | YouTube channel

Wikipedia | Oasis
Wikipedia | Definitely Maybe
Wikipedia | “Live Forever”

Oasis | main
Oasis | YouTube channel

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Oasis | “Live Forever” from Definitely Maybe

Maybe I don’t really want to know. How your garden grows, ‘cause I just want to fly.
Lately did you ever feel the pain. In the morning rain as it soaks you to the bone.

Maybe I just want to fly. I want to live I don’t want to die.
Maybe I just want to breath. Maybe I just don’t believe.

Maybe you’re the same as me. We see things they’ll never see.
You and I are gonna live forever. I said maybe I don’t really want to know.

Maybe I will never be. All the things that I want to be.
Now is not the time to cry. Now’s the time to find out why.

Gonna live forever, gonna live forever. We are gonna live forever.
Gonna live forever, gonna live forever. We are gonna live forever.

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Shadrach Kabango and Dallas Green | “Live Forever” from Two Songs

The time will come when we are all condemned for what we’ve done.
I say the times begun to pay for our crimes no time to run.
It’s sundown these days are the final ones. Looking dumbfounded staring in the eye of a gun
And we all scared to die we all fear the pallbearer.
All scared to cry we all fear our salt tears.
But why were we living so miserable?
Can’t get along why is forgiving so difficult?
Why we live alone what we living for is critical?
Someone give some hope that’s breath for our living souls.
Even if your physical can’t breathe stand up and lead.
Me and my band of brothers advance under siege.
Move towards the future the commander and chief.
Plant a flag on this soul call if land of the free.
Every day both rich and poor wonder what we living for.

We’re gonna live forever, what we gonna live for?
We’re gonna live forever, what we gonna live for?

You never know how your legends gonna grow later.
When we go it’s our ghost that they are so afraid of.
I try to flow greater ’cause most conscience sold food for thoughts.
Like tofu no flavor, so when I roll through it’s so smooth like a pro skater.
Or a boat cruise bringing change toll booth, player thought they told you I’m old school.
Student of the game, let me show you a whole new grade up.

All my single ladies here’s a couple lines:
Love takes two people, love one mind.
Here’s one year if you give it six months.
You only live once, this is double time.
Essentially bring the energy of Busta Rhymes.
So it doesn’t die like Curtis on touch the sky.
And when the smoke finally clears we’re gonna rise above the ash.

We’re gonna live forever, what we gonna live for?
We’re gonna live forever, What we gonna live for?

Like this: I can’t sweat trying to make the coolest impression.
Trying to get power is a foolish obsession.
Why use talent as a tool for oppression?
A real king ain’t got to rule with a weapon.
Dog what if we went to school for possession instead of jail.
They say to stop the crazy talk Shad we never will.
I guess I still believe love can never fail.
Cross eyes on heaven looking crazy as hell, Maybe I dwell too much on legacy destiny.

Like I could ever read what’s on the headstone ahead of me.
But in my head I see we are carving the letters.
Everyday that thought makes me live for the better.
The truth comes out but it starts at the center.
The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
The hearts made of matter that you can’t measure.
That matters beyond measure like light when it travels in the dark.

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reader contributions:

Brian Johnston | Hi, I loved the article on songs related to living forever. Here’s one I wrote that I think Ray will enjoy, called “I Wanna Be an Android.” Let’s have a party, invite our best friends, download our minds into cool robots and live forever! Singularity: the moment when machine and humans merge.

songwriter: Brian Johnston
singer: Brian Johnston
producer, director: Brian Johnston

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Brian Johnston | “I Wanna Be an Android”

Today is the day, I made my decision, to leave everything behind.
Going to begin my evolution, a preservation of the mind.
Yeah, today is the day I’ll last forever, I can be the first of my kind.
I’m going to beat history, I choose immortality.

I wanna be an android. ‘Cause there will be nothing to fear.
I’ll have a plasticized soul in a silicon mold.
Maybe this sounds a bit weird.
But I don’t care what they say about Judgment Day.
‘Cause I just want to stay here.

I had a turn with many religions, products of the human brain.
And when I lay me down to sleep they all promise my soul, my soul to keep.
But today is the day I choose immortality.

Today’s the day I start my mission, download my mind.
Wi-fi transmission, I’m on my way. 3, 2, 1, download complete. Come on and be my android.

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