Thank You for the Years
Music and Lyrics written by Andrew Neve & Elizabeth Neve
This song was released on 26 May 2003 and is available on the CD Album
Thank You For The Years, released to coincide with the 50th Anniversary
Concert Tour 2003.
The album contains two versions of the song; as well as the main version there
is also a slower less jazzy "Anniversary Mix"
During its first play on BBC Radio Two's
Russell
Davies programme, Russell Davies mentioned that the song had been written
some five years earlier, by "Mr and Mrs Andy Neve", and that the A & R (Artist and
Repertoire) director for Sony Music, Nicky Graham had finally united the singer
and the song. In the sleeve note for the album, Shirley said that "The song says
it all for me".
"My way of saying "Thank you for the years" ...
I first heard Shirley sing "Thank You for the Years" on the Graham Norton show.
At that time my husband Clive was very sick with Parkinson's and the words and
feeling that it was sung with made me just sit and cry so much. It is a
beautiful song. When Clive passed away a few weeks later, I decided to play
Thank You for the Years at his funeral, as it meant so much and I honestly
believe it was the last song Clive really heard. I used to play it softly in his
room, and I have played it many times since then."
"I would like to say thank you to all those involved in its making, I do hope
this message gets through to Dame Shirley, I have already thanked Andrew, but
would like to so again. It comes from my heart and others that have heard it."
From Patricia
Thank you Patricia for sending me this moving story.
Andrew Neve
Andrew
Neve is a composer with experience in writing and arranging music in a
variety of styles. He is in the process of updating his website, and further
more detailed information will follow soon.
I have been in touch with Andy who has been very
helpful, he told me that "I
can tell you that Dame Shirley is very enthusiastic about the whole project as
are Sony (Citrus is a Sony Music label) and Shirley's management.
Ed, thank you very much for your kind words about the song. When we wrote it 5
years ago there was only one person in the whole world who we wanted to perform
it and that was Dame Shirley.
We are thrilled to have her sing it. We wrote it from the heart and hopefully
that comes over in the song."
I thank you for the years
I thank you for the good times
As we go on together
I just want to say I'm glad you're here tonight
Thank you for the way you've touched my life
I thank you for your love
It helps me through the hard times
And the joy we share together
gives me all I need to make it through the night
Thank you for the way you hold me tight
I thank you for the years
I thank you for the years
I thank you its been so wonderful
and through all the good and bad times
I just want to say I'm glad you're in my heart
loving you was only just the start
Holding on
When we're down and we are hurting
Holding on
To the precious things we have
We'll carry on
We'll carry on together
Our love's the reason we are strong
As we grow old together
I just want to say I'm glad you came my way
Thank you for the love you bring each day
I love you now and all I have to say
Is thank you for the years
)