The Best of Times

The Best of Times
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

Tonight's the night we'll make history
Honey, you and I
'Cause I'll take any risk to tie back the hands of time
And stay with you here tonight

I know you feel these are the worst of times
I do believe it's true
When people lock their doors and hide inside
Rumor has it, it's the end of paradise

But I know, if the world just passed us by
Baby, I know, I wouldn't have to cry, no no

The best of times
are when I'm alone with you
Some rain some shine
we'll make this a world for two

Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime
We'll take the best, forget the rest
And someday we'll find

These are the best of times
These are the best of times

The headlines read, "These are the worst of times"
I do believe it's true
I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide
I wish this summer wind could bring back paradise

But I know, if the world turned upside down
Baby, I know, you'd always be around my mind

The best of times are when I'm alone with you
Some rain some shine, we'll make this a world for two
When I'm alone with you
    (The best of times)
Everything's alright
    (Are when I'm alone with you)
When I'm alone with you
    (Some rain some shine)
You brighten up the night
    (We'll make this a world for two)

When I'm alone with you...

Interpretation 

The classic opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens are the basis provide the key lines for this love song.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

The best of times are when I'm with you. The worst of times are when I'm away from you.

Somehow we will find a way to keep this moment alive as if the night were to last forever ("I'll take any risk to tie back the hands of time and stay with you here tonight...Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime").

There are a lot of reasons to think that times are bad ("When people lock their doors and hide inside, rumor has it, it's the end of paradise"). We feel we need to lock our doors because it's not safe outside. If only we could bring back the past ("I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide; I wish this summer wind could bring back paradise").  No matter what happens, I will always think of you ("if the world turned upside down...you'd always be around my mind").

Times won't always be perfect ("Some rain some shine"), but if we stay together ("we'll make this a world for two"), we will have the best of times ("We'll take the best, forget the rest and someday we'll find these are the best of times").