Greatest love songs ever: #51 “Impossible”

By Tom Quiner

Some say it is ‘impossible’ to end abortion. I say all it takes is love. And love songs are a cultural antidote to what ails us. That’s why Pulse Life Advocates dips its toe into the arts and culture, such as sponsoring this blog series, “Greatest Love Songs Ever.”

We plan on counting down the top 52 love songs over the next year. Number fifty-one on our list is “Impossible.”

A couple dozen love songs have been composed over the years with the title, “Impossible.” One stands out, the version penned by the 20th century renaissance man, Steve Allen.

The talented Mr. Allen

Younger readers may not be familiar with the talented Mr. Allen. He was the co-creator and host of the iconic Tonight Show, which airs to this day, hosted by Jimmy Fallon (and previously hosted by Johnny Carson and Jay Leno). Allen was an amazing talent: comedian; radio personality; writer; actor; pianist; and even a prolific songwriter.

His PBS television show, Meeting of Minds, was the inspiration for two of the plays I wrote and produced (The Guy Agnostico Show and A Clash of Creeds).

Released in 1956, “Impossible” offers the perfect blend of a lilting melody with lyrics that drip with romance, both written by Allen. The songs opens with these lovely lines:

“If they had ever told me how sweet a kiss could be,

I would have said, “Impossible, impossible for me.”

And if they said, I’d find you beyond the rainbow’s end,

I would have said, “Impossible, impossible, my friend.”

The song is beautifully crafted by a songwriting pro who knows how to tug at your heartstrings. This song certainly does it to me. Take a listen to the quintessential interpretation of the song by the legendary Nat King Cole (above).

Susan Raney’s cover song of Impossible

Here’s Steve Allen’s piano solo of “Impossible”

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big”

Perhaps his best known song was, “This Could Be The Start of Something Big,” a song certainly worthy of this list. Take a listen:

Nonetheless, I like “Impossible” better, because just about everyone would like to find the kind of love expressed in this song. Sadly, too many feel love is out of their reach, an impossibility. This song ends by letting us know that there is hope, that in fact, beautiful life-changing love is very much a reality.

For those of us praying for our unborn brothers and sisters, and who sometimes get discouraged and fret that an end to abortion is ‘impossible,’ this song encourages us to keep plugging. It reminds us that not only is love worth fighting for, it is very much within reach, just as end to abortion is within reach.

God is Love, and nothing is impossible with Him.

Next week, we look at a ‘torch’ song, a subset of love songs. It’s an iconic gut-wrencher! See you then.

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