Inspiration Behind I Do It For You:
The inspiration behind I Do It For You was an assignment to create a theme song for the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. When Bryan Adams and producer Matt Lange understood the theme of this movie, I Do It For You was completed in 45 minutes. The song’s success was not embraced by Hollywood, wanting to use an instrumental piece similar to the era of this film. Although I Do It For You was finally accepted as the theme song, disgruntled movie producers buried the song credits, unaware it would become a massive hit.
Biblical Application:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity, Colossians 3:12-14.
Exegesis of I Do It For You:
Look into my eyes
You will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart
Search your soul
And when you find me there
You’ll search no more
In the context of the film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Robin is talking to Marian. Robin’s eyes and body language demonstrated his love for Marian.
Don’t tell me it’s not worth tryin’ for
You can’t tell me it’s not worth dyin’ for
You know it’s true
Everything I do
I do it for you
Robin is fully committed to Marian, willing to die for his love.
Look into your heart
You will find
There’s nothin’ there to hide
Take me as I am
Take my life
I would give it all
I would sacrifice
Robin is seeking a fairy tale ending of a love story that ends with them together.
Don’t tell me it’s not worth fightin’ for
I can’t help it there’s nothin’ I want more
You know it’s true
Everything I do
I do it for you
Robin is smitten with love, willing to do whatever it takes to be with the woman he loves.
There’s no love
Like your love
And no other
Could give more love
There’s nowhere
Unless you’re there
All the time
All the way, yeah
Look into your heart, baby
Robin has never met anyone like Marian. She is the love of his life.
Oh you can’t tell me it’s not worth tryin’ for
I can’t help it there’s nothin’ I want more
Yeah, I would fight for you
I lie for you
Walk the wire for you
Yeah, I’d die for you
Robin would do anything necessary to be with Marian.
You know it’s true
Everything I do
Oh
I do it for you
You are my inspiration for living.
Everything I do, darling
Yeah we’ll see it through
Well we’ll see it though, oh yeah
Yeah!
Search your heart and your soul
You can’t tell me it ain’t worth dyin’ for
Whatever we have to endure, I will be with you until the end.
I’ll be there
I’d walk the fire for you
I’d die for you
I want to make you the happiest bride on earth.
Oh, yeah
All the time
I’m going all the way, all the way
Robin loves Marian with all his heart, soul and mind.
Final Thoughts:
I was a huge Bryan Adams fan in high school. The Summer of 69 was the first song I sang at a Karaoke Bar in college. Bryan’s sound led me to a Christian group from Canada called the Kry. The Kry’s song When You Die changed the course of my life late in college after watching a shocking music video attached to this song. Whenever you begin to emulate the words from the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:12-14, you’ll slowly become love in action like Robin’s character in Prince of Thieves.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 