Dear John

This song was written by Styx after the death of John Panozzo in 1996. He was the original drummer and co-founder of the group with his twin brother Chuck, and Dennis de Young. The words keep coming to me at the moment for some unexplained reason. I think most people who have lost someone dear to them can relate to lines such as "I swear I saw you on a crowded street today" and "I'll see you again someday soon". Whilst not being written from a Christian perspective, as far as I'm aware, the song does contain echos of faith within it. Such as "heaven help me", "there will be a celebration, when all will be revealed", and "find some peace there, may it never end". Whether you have a Christian faith or not, it is always hard when someone you love dies, and believe me it can be very hard to cope with. The sense of loss diminishes after a while, but then stupid little thing bring it all back to the surface, sometimes even as long as 22 years later, as I know only too well! However, God promises that those who believe in Him will reside with Him for ever in heaven, free from pain and suffering. It is this promise that I hold onto, for without it I do not think I could have coped with certain things that have effected me. We do not know or have the capacity to understand what is or is not in God's plan, but I trust Him to bring it to fruition.


Dear John

Dear John I knew you
About as well as anyone
We were the wild ones
So sure those days would never end

Now they're only
Memories my friend
Dear John I'll see you
Someday again

I swear I saw you
On a crowded street today
I almost called your name
Thinking of all those yesterdays

Heaven help me
How I miss my friend
Dear John I'll see you
Someday again

There'll be a celebration
When all will be revealed
We'll have a reunion
High on a hill

Dear John how are you
God knows it's heaven
Where you are

Find some peace there
May it never end
Dear John my heart knows
We'll meet again

Dear John I'll see you
Someday again