In August, I was sitting with my neighbours and their parents in the garden by the fire. The father of my neighbour Thomas, called Norbert, was playing the guitar and we sang along to a variety of songs. It was a melancholy and joyful atmosphere at the same time. Norbert was dying of cancer and when we sang “Let it be” or “My bonnie” we weren’t just singing along to the songs, drifting off in our own associations. We were thinking of singing together with Norbert, which was a family tradition, and that this might be the last time. One of the songs Norbert played and we sang along to was “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies. I hadn’t heard it in years and realised I’d never listened to the lyrics before, except of course the title refrain.
Norbert died on 30th October 2019. May he rest in peace.
“If I could make a wish
I think I’d pass
Can’t think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep
No light, no sound
Nothing to eat, no books to read
Making love with you
Has left me peaceful, warm, and tired
What more could I ask?
There’s nothing left to be desired
Peace came upon me, and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep
Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes, to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Peace came upon me, and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep
Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes, to… “
Foto: Norbert in the garden in Lanke
Source: https://genius.com/The-hollies-the-air-that-i-breathe-lyrics