B.J. Thomas - I Forgot To Remember To Forget You Lyrics
Lyrics
I forgot to remember to forget her
I can't seem to get her off my mind
I thought I'd never miss her
But I found out somehow
I think about her almost all the time
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I'd soon forget we ever met
Well something sure is wrong
'Cause I'm so bloomin' lonely
I forgot to remember to forget
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I'd soon forget we ever met
Well something sure is wrong
'Cause I'm so bloomin' lonely
I forgot to remember to forget
Video
B.J. Thomas - I Forgot to Remember to Forget
Meaning & Inspiration
B.J. Thomas's "I Forgot to Remember to Forget You," featured on his 2008 album *Sings for Lovers and Losers*, delves into a universal human experience: the stubborn persistence of memory and affection, even when logic dictates otherwise. The song's narrative centers on a promise made in the immediate aftermath of a separation – a promise to "soon forget we ever met." This resolution, born from a desire to move forward, quickly unravels as the narrator finds himself consumed by thoughts of the departed person, realizing the futility of his intent. The core of the message lies in the poignant realization that the active effort to forget is, ironically, the very thing that keeps the memory alive.
This struggle echoes the human tendency to grapple with loss and longing, a theme deeply explored in Scripture. When we try to force our emotions into submission, we often find them resisting, much like the Psalmist confessed in Psalm 119:165, "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." While this verse speaks of peace found in divine law, it highlights the profound difficulty of exerting absolute control over our inner landscape. The narrator's attempt to forget is akin to trying to command the tide; it’s a force of nature, an internal current that defies simple decree. Proverbs 4:23 offers a relevant caution: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." The narrator’s heart, despite his vow, continues to flow towards the memory, demonstrating that guarding it involves more than just a mental commitment to forget. The promise to forget, while perhaps well-intentioned, was an attempt to bypass the necessary process of healing and acceptance, a process that often requires time and grace, not forced erasure. His loneliness, described as "bloomin' lonely," underscores the void left by the departure, a void that cannot be filled by merely wishing away the past.
The song poignantly captures the paradox of trying to erase someone from your mind. It's a powerful reminder that our efforts to suppress deep emotions can sometimes backfire, solidifying their presence. The true challenge isn't in the act of forgetting itself, but in learning to live with the memory, to integrate it into our story without letting it paralyze us. This resonates with the concept of finding strength and peace amidst hardship, a journey often depicted in biblical narratives. Instead of striving for an impossible erasure, perhaps the path forward involves acknowledging the memory, surrendering the struggle to forget, and seeking solace and strength through faith and time, allowing God's love to mend and guide.