One of my best friends, Jay Tan, died three years ago – his fourth death anniversary comes in less than two months – and I remember Deborah Gibson’s Anytime (I Am There) as one of the songs that consoled me in that deep moment of loss. As a song for funerals and wakes, Anytime (I Am there), taken off William Finn’s Elegies, is an appropriate and heartrending funeral song, sung from the perspective of a parent looking to console a child in the looming inevitability of death. Deborah’s version, off her 2004 CD Colored Lights: The Broadway Album, is a fitting and emotional version that should work well when sung with a piano, guitar, or even a capella (as I did during Jay’s funeral). It comforted me a lot and I hope it does too for those of you going through the pain of losing a loved one.
[audio:http://gannsdeen.com/audio2/anytime.mp3]ANYTIME (I AM THERE) Lyrics
Debbie Gibson
Any time you laugh
Any time you cry
Any time you hear a sound
When you’re on the grass
Lying on the ground
Any time you wash your hands
I’ll be around
I’ll be there on the baseball field
Though I’m well concealed
I’ll be out there cheering
I’ll be there in the books you read
It is guaranteed
I’m not disappearing fast
Any time
No not any time
And I am there each morning
I am there each fall
I am present without warning
And I’m watching it all
Yes I’m watching it all
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And I am there in music
I am there in sky
I don’t why this thing did happen
But this much is clear
Any time or anywhere
I am there
Any time you pray
Any time you fight
Any time you’ve gained a pound
Any time it’s day
Any time it’s night
Any time the earth moves
I’ll be around
I’ll be there in the maple trees
I’m a summer breeze
On a perfect evening
I’ll be there when you celebrate
When the world seems great
I’ll be waiting by your side
Any time
Yes! Any time
And I am there each morning
I am there each fall
I present without warning
And I’m watching it all
Yes I’m watching it all
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And I am there in flowers
I am there in snow
I don’t know why this thing happened
But this much is clear
Any time you cry
Any time you sing
For anything
I’ll be there
Each morning
I’ll be there each fall
I don’t why this thing happened
But this much is clear
Be aware
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
