“Open Arms” is a power ballad by Journey released in January 1982 as a single from their seventh studio album, Escape. Written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, the song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, holding that position for six weeks and remaining the band’s highest-charting single in the United States.
The song’s origins trace back to 1980 when Cain was still a member of the band The Babys. He had composed the melody but found that Babys vocalist John Waite rejected it as “too syrupy” or “sentimental rubbish.” After Cain joined Journey, he presented the unfinished demo to Perry, who immediately recognized its potential despite initial resistance from other band members, including guitarist Neal Schon, who feared it was too far removed from the group’s hard rock image.
[Verse 1]
Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heartbeat with mine
Softly, you whisper, you’re so sincere
How could our love be so blind?
We sailed on together, we drifted apart
And here you are by my side
[Chorus]
So now, I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you’ll see what your love means to me
Open arms
[Verse 2]
Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home
But now that you’ve come back, turned night into day
I need you to stay
[Chorus]
So now, I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you’ll see what your love means to me
Open arms
