During one of the Presidential Inauguration events, the 90s band “The New Radicals” reunited to perform their hit song (perhaps their only hit song) You Get What You Give. Lead singer, Gregg Alexander, even wore a hat identical to the one he wore in the original video some 22 years earlier. The song is catchy, and the lyrics are encouraging:
But when the night is falling
You cannot find the light
You feel your dreams are dying
Hold tight
Why this song and why the inauguration? Alexander is quoted saying that the band had been asked to reunite many times, but that was never the plan. He had heard that this song had special meaning to the Biden family—the late Beau Biden would often listen to it as inspiration during his battle with cancer. President Biden described this song as Beau’s ”theme song”, sighting the line “you’ll be OK, follow your heart” as especially powerful to him. Prior to the performance, Alexander said that he pledged to get the band back together and play this song in memory and honor of Beau and with the prayer that our country could come back together with “compassion, honesty and justice for a change.” So when Alexander got the call from the inaugural planning committee, he couldn’t say no.
I loved that song. I remember when it came out in 1998. It was fun to sing and it spoke to the idea of following your dreams, not giving up and perhaps the notion that things in life are fair—if you give back in the right way, you will receive in equal proportion. I expected more great songs from The New Radicals. But then, after one studio album and one great hit, The New Radicals broke up and the members went their separate ways and the song rode out its time, reappearing on lists made of “All-Time Greatest One Hit Wonders” and similar recognitions over the years. As I listened to it again during the televised coverage of the inauguration, I was struck by how many of the lines were so valuable for today, for this past year and how it could possibly inspire a new generation. How perfect that this song would become relevant again in 2021.
But when the night is falling
You cannot find a friend
You feel your tree is breaking
Just bend
In a year filled with despair, sickness, death and increased depression, it’s important to remind ourselves that this world is going to pull through. That we need to give back, to care for others and that can be our own inspiration for living.
You’ve got the music in you
Don’t let go
You’ve got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don’t give up
You’ve got a reason to live
Can’t forget
We only get what we give.
-Lori Hall, Executive Director of Missions
