When I wrote this song I was 34 – twice the age of the 17-year-old me who is its main character. This song is for him and for all the pretentious, over the top, brave, naïve, hopeful teenagers who still live somewhere in us.

The title comes from the major seventh chords that I learned from Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Todd Rundgren, chords that are full of wonder and possibility. In writing it, I tried to say “yes” to every songwriting instinct, no matter how uncool. There’s a key change. And harp. And a disco groove. Because all those protective layers of irony and second-guessing ourselves don’t do us any good. They just keep us from the things we really want.

Written and arranged by Edward Randell
Produced by Chris Hyson and Edward Randell
Engineered by Chris Hyson with additional engineering by Lloyd Haines and Alex Haines at Basement 10.
Mixed and mastered by D. James Goodwin at The isokon.

Edward Randell – vocals, piano, electric guitar, programming
Chris Hyson – electric bass
Thomas Broda – drums, percussion
Alex Haines – electric guitar
Tara Minton – harp
Laura Ayoub – violin
Richard Phillips – cello
Sara Brimer Davey, Sumudu Jayatilaka, Scarlet Halton – backing vocals

Single cover photo by Max Bandicoot
Design by Edward Randell

℗ and © Edward Randell 2024

Lyrics:

Who’s that stranger in the corner?
Is it me at seventeen?
Trying on his dad’s fedora
Quoting films he’s never seen
Trying to like the taste of whisky
Trying to like the way I sing
Playing songs I’ve long forgotten
A reminder to be kinder to
The boy who knew more
Than I give him credit for

He knew there was magic in the major seven
If you can open up your heart
Don’t have to try so hard
Not to be caught out trying
It’s only sentimental
If you don’t believe in it

Magic in the major seven
If you can open up your heart
Don’t have to try so hard
Not to be caught out trying
It’s only sentimental
If you don’t believe in it
And I wanna believe again…

Once I dreamt in technicolor
I guess growing up means going grey
Turning down the saturation
Helps me make it through the day
And I’ve been trying not to get my hopes up
‘Cause hope’s a target on your chest
So why am I crying in the kitchen
At a melody compelling me to
Hold out a hand
To the ones who understand

That there is a magic in the major seven…
If you can open up your heart
Don’t have to try so hard
Not to be caught out trying
It’s only sentimental
If you don’t believe in it
And I wanna believe again…

Magic in the major seven
If you can open up your heart
Don’t have to try so hard
Not to be caught out trying
It’s only sentimental
If you don’t believe in it
And I wanna believe…

Forever Blue

Peter Eldridge

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