This song, Joyce played constantly the Summer and Fall of 2024. It really was the last song she ever loved. And while I still have reservations about Bruno Mars, Joyce did too when he showed up around the same time Mayer Hawthorne and Janelle Monae (and even Kimbra) did in 2011/2012/2013. Joyce came around with him a little bit on "Uptown Funk" (her friend Bernetta may have helped that), and then especially with his collaboration with Anderson Paak. and SILK SONIC. The 70's r&b funk vibes totally spoke to her.
But then this tune, she became obsessed with, as she occassionally did with 1 song. She'd play it over and over and over.
And I'll admit, the song is pretty good. The instrumental guitar bridge/solo is great.
But I can't deny, it has and maybe will almost always come back to me with the lyrics and how she died a year after it came out. August 16th, 2024 is specifically when it was released.
In the middle of the hell of Dumpy's campaign. Kamala was confirmed literally 3 days after it was released on August 19th, 2024.
But the other biggie is the title and lyric "Die With a Smile"..when Joyce died, she was smiling. I have pics to prove it actually (I'm not going to show them though).
So, WTF..prophetic?..was listening to this song a premonition to her fate? and why didn't I die with her holding her in my arms?
I dunno, I don't want to believe in this stuff, but so much strange stuff has happened since she passed away, I can't help but wonder. Maybe somewhere in this song it suggests we will be together again, so holding on to that thought and belief, it gives me a bit of solace and peace.
But, I can't deny, for some reason this song almost predicted her near future. And reading much of Brian K Vaughan's recently released Graphic Novel, Spectators which is about what seems like it could be the end of the human race..or heading toward that, this almost adds more to that thought.
But Spectators is set a long ways into the future..or in the future, several decades at least.
But maybe there is some hope and belief when I go, I will be with her and the lyrics and message behind this tune will not be so profoundly sad, even as romantic as they come across.
But make no mistake, Joyce and in her body, did Die With a Smile on her face, at least physically. She knew she was going to die, although she also said to me "People keep saying I'm going to kick the bucket. I'd like them to know, it ain't over til it's over." (Lenny..oddly who I still wish should have done the Prince tribute instead of Bruno Mars, but that's separate).
Ooh
I, I just woke up from a dream
Where you and I had to say goodbye
And I don't know what it all means
But since I survived, I realized
Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow
Nobody's promised tomorrow
So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night
Like it's the last night
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
Ooh
Ooh, lost, lost in the words that we scream
I don't even wanna do this anymore
'Cause you already know what you mean to me
And our love's the only war worth fighting for
Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow
Nobody's promised tomorrow
So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night
Like it's the last night
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
Right next to you
Next to you
Right next to you
Oh-oh, oh
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
Ooh
I'd wanna be next to you