What's Forever For

"What's Forever For" is a song written by Rafe VanHoy and first recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley on their 1979 album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive.

"What's Forever For"
Single by Michael Martin Murphey
from the album Michael Martin Murphey
B-side	"Crystal"
Released	June 14, 1982
Recorded	August 31, 1981
Genre	Country, pop
Length	2:52
Label	Liberty 1466
Songwriter(s)	Rafe VanHoy
Producer(s)	Jim Ed Norman
Michael Martin Murphey singles chronology
"The Two-Step Is Easy" (1982) "What's Forever For" (1982) "Still Taking Chances" (1983)

The song saw its biggest success when it was recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in June 1982 as the second single from his album, Michael Martin Murphey. "What's Forever For" was Murphey's first of two number ones on the country chart. The single went to number one for one week and spent 16 weeks in the country top 40.[1] On the Hot 100, "What's Forever For" was his final Top 40 hit, peaking at number 19.[2] The song is also one of his most well known in the Philippines, along with "Maybe This Time".

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4]	4
US Billboard Hot 100[5]	19
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks	7

Year-end chart (1982)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6]	93

Cover versions

• Anne Murray on her 1980 album Somebody's Waiting, released by Capitol Records. "What's Forever For" was also included as the B-side of her Beatles cover hit, "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You".
• T. G. Sheppard on his 1981 album I Love 'Em All, released by Warner Bros. Records.
• Johnny Mathis on his 1982 album Friends in Love, released on Columbia Records.
• Billy Gilman on his 2000 album One Voice, released by Epic Records.
• Filipino acoustic singer Nyoy Volante covered the song on his 2008 album, Heartstrings.
• Jeff Trachta and Bobbie Eakes, on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.
• Tonny Willé and Marco Bakker.
• John Conlee on the album With Love in 1981 on MCA.
• B.J. Thomas on his 2000 album You Call That a Mountain.

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, 2nd Edition. Record Research. p. 241.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 8th Edition. Record Research. p. 442.
3. "Michael Martin Murphey Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
4. "Michael Martin Murphey Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
5. "Michael Martin Murphey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
6. "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94 no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20.