For My Sunday Song #475, we are talking about “Let The Children Play” by the band Europe. Don’t think this is an 80’s Europe song…you’d be wrong. This is a more mature and even better sounding band. The song is from their 2006 album, “Secret Society” which might be one of their best albums EVER!! The song was not a single, but it was one of the best songs on the album, if not the best song on the album. It is the fifth song on the album and when you get to it, you realize just how good this whole thing really is.

The song was written by Joey Tempest and Mic Michaeli even though I’ve seen it basically credited to the whole band too. Regardless, the message is something we all need to hear. We get advice from everyone in our life, our mom, our dad, our siblings and even God. The lyric below says it all…

It’s not where we’re coming from
It’s how we turn from here
We know where we want to go
We just need a line, to get us there.

The best advice is simply let the children play and be kids. Maintain that innocence as long as you can. You can only guide them, give them that line to follow. It is up to them to find their own way. They will make bad decisions along the way. It is how they move from that decision that will make them who they are…good or bad.

The song is a rocker, with some gritty riffs, a killer solo and a driving rhythm section with the bass and drum. John Norum’s guitar are definitely a highlight giving us the melodic feel and great guitar sound. Joey Tempest vocals have never sounded better. He gets stronger as he ages. It is such a powerful, catchy chorus that it sucks you right in. The coolest moment is towards the end when the children’s choir comes in with the chorus. It really ties it all together and leaves you wanting more.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. Are they right, let the children play and keep the innocence? I think so. Let kids be kids. I think today it is needed more than ever. Get them off social media and their phones and let them go out and play…find their way through human bonding rather than machine!!

“Let The Children Play”

My mother would tell me
Better stay in line
You gotta look for the magic
If there’s a way there comes a time

My dad used to tell me
You gotta work real hard
Keep it straight and simple
From the head, then the heart

If you’d ask my brother
I know what he’d say
Let the children play

It’s not where we’re coming from
It’s how we turn from here
We know where we want to go
We just need a line, to get us there…

My sister would show me
To land on your feet
You got to suffer fools
Before you get, life and need

So God would you tell me
Is there an other way
Let the children play

It’s not where we’re coming from
It’s how we turn from here
We know where we want to go
We just need the line, to get us there…

My mother would tell me
Better stay in line
You gotta look for the magic
If there’s a way there comes a time

It’s not where we’re coming from
It’s how we turn from here
We know where we want to go
We just need the line, to get us there…

Writer(s): Joey Tempest, John Terry Norum, Mic Michaeli, John Gunnar Leven, Haakan Jan Haugland