Our Love is Here to Stay

Our Love is Here to Stay
lyrics by Ira Gershwin
music by George Gershwin

Maundy Thursday

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
– John 13:1

And so, on this first day of spring 2008, we find ourselves at the precipice known as Maundy Thursday. The word “Maundy” has the same root as our word “mandate”, and it refers to what Jesus tells his disciples (and all of us) at the Last Supper, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).”

If someone asked me for my all-time favorite song, and said that I had to narrow it down to just one, Our Love is Here to Stay, would probably be at the top of the list. It is quite possibly the last song the Gershwin brothers wrote together, as it was released after George’s death in 1937. Everyone’s familiar with the verses and bridge, but here’s the often-overlooked introduction:

The more I read the papers, the less I comprehend
The world and all its capers and how it all will end.
Nothing seems to be lasting, but that isn’t our affair.
We’ve got something permanent,
I mean in the way we care.

Our Love is Here to Stay is from the film The Goldwyn Follies of 1938 and it was released shortly after George Gershwin’s death. In the film, Oliver Merlin, a Hollywood producer, realizes that he has become far removed from the “common folk”. He wants to hire a simple person to critically evaluate his movies. He finds the perfect candidate and offers her the job:

Oliver Merlin: I'm a producer of movies. I get my wagonloads of poets and dramatists, but I can't buy common sense – I cannot buy humanity!
Hazel Dawes: Well, I don't know why, Mr. Merlin. There's an awful lot of it.
Oliver Merlin: Yes, I know, but the moment I buy it, it turns into something else, usually genius, and it isn't worth a dime. Now, if you could stay just as simple as you are, you'd be invaluable to me. I'll put you on my staff. I'll give you a title, "Miss Humanity". Don't rush; you can finish your ice cream soda.

That’s kind of the whole human story. Ever since our eviction from the Garden of Eden, God has been at work, reconciling us to Him. He posted signs in the Earth and the heavens, set up laws, seated rulers, and inspired prophets. All these things were pointing to the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, when “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” as St John’s Gospel states in verse 1:14. Or, as we say in the Nicene Creed, “For us and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven.”

It’s impossible for us to relate to what kind of “stepping down” the Lord did to get here for us. But on this night before He was betrayed and handed over to the authorities for crucifixion, He tells His dear friends the extent of His love for them. It's a love, timeless and unchanging. Here's how the Gershwins express it:

It’s very clear our love is here to stay.
Not for a year, but ever and a day.
The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go.

But, oh my dear, our love is here to stay.
Together we’re going a long, long way.
In time the Rockies may crumble,
Gibraltar may tumble, they’re only made of clay,
But our love is here to stay.

After sharing the Passover meal, Jesus and the disciples sing a hymn, then make their way to Gethsemane. Unspeakable sadness and horror are on the horizon, but Jesus takes the opportunity to impress upon them the power of love – of His love for all of us and of our love for one another. Before they are all scattered, He holds them close:

I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
– John 15:15

His love is on offer for all of us. Will we return that love? There is nothing more powerful. It is the greatest thing of all that remains.

In time the Rockies may crumble,
Gibraltar may tumble, they’re only made of clay,
But our love is here to stay.