For My Sunday Song #467, we are going to talk about the song “Anytime” by the McAuley Schenker Group. I ordered a new box set from them and it got me thinking about this song and how much I love it. The song is off their 1989 album ‘Save Yourself’. The song was released as a single in April 1990 and I remember seeing it on MTV and get swept up in it. Ballads were huge and every band needed one and this delivered on all fronts.
The song was written by singer Robin McAuley and guitarist Steve Mann. The song is about longing for that lost love. It appears that the singer had not truly appreciated what he had until she was gone from his life. He realized he treated her poorly relegating her to “the corner of my empty room”…which I am assuming is a cold dark place in his heart. When she was gone, he realized he loved her and wanted her back. The song is plea for her that anytime she wants him back, he will be there. If she’s lonely and needs to someone to simply call because it sounds like he will come a runnin’.
Robin McAuley’s vocals are what make this song work so well. You can hear the longing in his vocals. He pulls out so much emotion you start to feel bad for him and hope she will call so they can get back together. As good as his vocals are, the music has to match to make it all work. The atmospheric keyboards at the beginning then accompanied by an acoustic guitar are so soft and gentle. If you thought the vocals were longing, the music will break your heart as well. There is a co-solo in the song with both Schenker and Mann that works so perfectly for the song. It accentuates the feelings and adds even more texture to the overall song. When all is said done, it is a brilliant masterpiece. It shows that when a ballad is done well, it can’t be beat. One of my all time favorite ballads from this era.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. Let me know if it hits you the way it did me. Does it give you the feels??? Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!
“Anytime”
Blow a kiss from your hand
I catch it ‘fore it hits the ground
Cry a little for our fears baby baby
I’m so scared, there’s something wrong
I hid you in the corner of my empty room
Never really cared till now
Not standing in the corner from me
Anymore, you’ve done your time
I sure sent ’em my best line
When my time is through, oh
Can I still come home to you?
Anytime anytime you want me
Anytime anytime you’re lonely
You just have to call
‘Cause you know I’ll be there
Ew…
Anytime anytime, you need me
Anytime anytime, maybe you’re dreamin’
Waking up all alone, your heart is screaming… oh
I know I caused you so much pain
I promise that I’ll never hurt you again
Even though the scars remain
With a little time I know, we can win
Can’t stop this ride
Lost control of my desire
Still it burns for you
Like it always used to do
Anytime anytime you want me
Anytime anytime you’re lonely
You just have to call
‘Cause you know I’ll be there
Ew…
Anytime anytime, you need me
Anytime anytime, maybe you’re dreamin’
Waking up all alone, your heart is screaming, oh
And after the war is over
And all the fighting’s through
Can’t I make my peace with you
I wanna come home to you
Anytime anytime you want me
Anytime anytime you’re lonely
You just have to call
‘Cause I’m always there
Yeah yeah
Anytime anytime, you need me
Anytime anytime, maybe you’re dreamin’
Waking up all alone, your heart is screaming… oh
(Anytime anytime) anytime you want me
(Anytime anytime) ew, so lonely, so lonely
But you know I care, yeah
Anytime anytime… do you need me
Anytime anytime, oh are you dreamin’
Waking up all alone your heart is screamin’
Writer(s): Steve Mann and Robin McAuley
