Oh, Billy Ocean, it’s always so great to hear from you. You have a voice as powerful as the ocean that is your namesake. Seriously, Billy Ocean, there are few singers’ voices that I truly envy, and you are one of those few. I wish I had just an ounce of the tons of vocal talent that you have. But I don’t. So thanks for ruining my Friday, Billy Ocean.
Not really. Any time you get to listen to a Billy Ocean song is a good time to be alive. But I will admit, Billy Ocean, that this song always confused me when I was a kid. Because the way I interpreted it was that when the going gets tough, the tough run away. That’s what I thought the whole “get going” meant, as in leaving the scene of whatever happens to be tough. So for longer than I’d like to admit, I had no idea why we were calling these people tough if they just gave up as soon as it actually got tough. I didn’t understand that “the tough get going” meant that the tough got going working on the tough thing that made for tough going. I always had this picture in my head of these burly guys in hard hats, holding pickaxes, looking super tough, and then there’s an explosion or a tree falls in their path and they just throw their hats and pickaxes in the air and are like “Screw it, I’m outta here” and they get going far away from the tough going.
As I’m writing this, I can’t believe how unbelievably confused I was by that saying, Billy Ocean. I wish I could remember when it finally dawned on me what it actually meant, but I’m kinda glad that I don’t because I have a feeling it’s probably pretty recently. Like as I was listening to this amazingly awesome song again. But lucky for me, I’m not tough at all, so I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay right here and listen to this fantastic piece of radio goodness again.
“When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going”
Yeeeeah
Ohhhhh, brother
I got somethin’ to tell you
I got somethin’ to say
I’m gonna put this dream in motion
Never let nothing stand in my way
When the goin’ gets tough
The tough get goin’
I’m gonna get myself ‘cross the river
That’s the price I’m willing to pay
I’m gonna make you stand and deliver
And give me love in the old-fashioned way
Woah
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll climb any mountain
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll do anything
Ooo
(Hoo) can I touch ya (can I touch ya)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooo
(Hoo) wanna hold ya (wanna hold ya)
I gotta get it through ta you
Ohhh
When the goin’ gets tough
(The tough get goin’)
When the goin’ gets rooough (the tough get rough)
Hey, yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Ohhh, baby
I’m gonna buy me a one-way ticket
Nothin’s gonna hold me back
Your love’s like a slow train coming (slow train comin’)
And I feeeel it comin’ down the track
Woah
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll climb any mountain
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll do anything
Ooo
(Hoo) can I touch ya (can I touch ya)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooo
(Hoo) wanna hold you (wanna holja)
I gotta get it through ta you
Ohhh
‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough
(The tough get goin’)
When the goin’ gets rooough (the tough get rough)
Hey, yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Woah wooooah oh ohhhhh
Yeah yeah yeah
<awesome Billy Ocean jam>
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll climb any mountain
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll swim any seeea
(Daaaarlin’) I’ll reach for the heaven (reach for the heaven)
(Daaaarlin’) with you loving me
Ooo hoo hooo (Ooo hoo hooo)
(Hoo) can I touch ya (can I touch ya)
And do the things that lovers do
(Can I touch ya)
Ooo
(Ooo) wanna hold ya (wanna holja)
Gotta get it through ta yooou
Goin’ gets tough
(Goin’ gets tough)
Goin’ gets rooough
(Goin’ get rough)
Goin’ gets tough
(Goin’ get tough)
Goin’ gets rooough
(Goin’ gets rough)
Mixed Tape Masterpiece 