SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 2:06 Min.
After the passing of fiery pro wrestling legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage in mid-2011, this Jim Johnston single was released by Savage’s former employer, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
REVIEW:
Reminiscent of Eric Clapton’s style, Johnston’s low-key acoustic tribute doesn’t reference Randy Savage by name. In that sense, this ballad is surprisingly generic, perhaps too much so. The simplistic lyrics could just as easily apply to anyone.
Still, this somber tune poignantly reflects Savage’s propensity for giving audiences everything he could throughout more than three decades of high-energy performances. More so, it gently conveys a repetitive reference about being fondly remembered after death and a thoughtful allusion towards Heaven: “still here … headed home.” Between its contemplative lyrics and a gentle melody, the end result is both elegant and intentionally ironic. “Here and Gone” comes off as the down-to-earth antithesis to Savage’s brash, larger-than-life persona.
As brief as this tune is, part of its subdued magic is that “Here and Gone” doesn’t waste time and is straight to the point. It would be an appropriate song for a funeral, wake, or posthumous video montage.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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