Story Behind The Song
Released in 1984, “Everything Must Change” was one of the standout tracks from Paul Young’s second album, The Secret of Association. Although not as widely remembered as some of the album’s biggest singles, it demonstrated the consistency and quality that made the record one of the defining British pop-soul albums of the decade. Produced by Laurie Latham, the song showcased Young’s remarkable ability to bring warmth and emotion to sophisticated, soul-inspired material.
Written by Paul Young & Ian Kewley the song reflects on the inevitability of change and the challenges of accepting life’s constant transitions. Its thoughtful lyrics explore the emotional impact of moving on, whether in relationships or personal circumstances, while offering a message of resilience and hope. Paul Young’s expressive vocal performance is perfectly complemented by polished keyboards, tasteful guitar work, subtle brass and an understated rhythm section, creating a rich, atmospheric sound that allows the song’s message to shine.
Although overshadowed by some of the album’s more familiar hits, “Everything Must Change” remains a favourite among Paul Young fans and highlights the depth of The Secret of Association. It further demonstrated his gift for interpreting emotionally resonant songs with sincerity and effortless style. Today, the track is appreciated as one of the hidden gems from his mid-1980s catalogue, admired for its sophisticated production, heartfelt performance and timeless message that change, however difficult, is an inevitable part of life.
The song peaked at No. 09 on the UK charts on 22nd December 1984.
Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
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Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
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ALL information on this page was obtained from numerous sources. These include The Official Charts website, Discogs, 45Cat, Polyhex, and many other sites.
Some images have been cleaned up using CHATGPT.
A-SIDE & B-SIDE COVERS
TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Everything Must Change (5:32) (Paul Young, Ian Kewley) Produced By Laurie Latham |
| B-Side | Give Me My Freedom (3:25) (Paul Young, Ian Kewley) Produced By Laurie Latham |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [9 Weeks] – 8th December 1984 – 2nd February 1985 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
Everything Must Change (Single Version) (5:32)
Everything Must Change (Extended Mix) (8:28)
Everything Must Change (US Single Version) (4:28)
Everything Must Change (Alternate Mix) (6:21)
Everything Must Change (Instrumental) (4:23)
OFFICIAL VIDEO
LYRICS
(Everything must change)
I was never one to back out of an argument
And say I was wrong
Even when I`d seen the other side
I`ll hide my foolishness and carry on
But still I`d be embarrassed
Cause they see what happened
And they`d play along
Until I back myself into a corner
I would only realize that they are gone
And like a dream a life a reason
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
And like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
In the same way when we disagree
I wouldn`t be the one to back down
Still I know that you had faith in me
Tell me something
Am I letting you down?
Cause when I woke up
And I saw the note
You pressed into the mirror frame
Well, it was easy to be angry at you
But deep inside
I know we share the blame
And like a dream a life a reason
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
And like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
I`m going back to the top to start myself off
But first of all some things I need to know
When I`m scared of being wrong again
Won`t you be the one I turn to?
To let me know
Oh, let me know
Oh, ooh
Please let me be right for once
Cause right now all I feel I do is wrong
And it`s never too late to learn about love
I just need your hand to hold on
And like a dream a life a reason
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
And like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
And like a dream a life a reason
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
And like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change
(Every, everything, everything must change)
Oh, they must change
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Ooh
(And like a dream, a life
A reason everything must change)
(Like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change)
Everything must change
(Like a dream
A life, a reason
Everything must change)
(Like the world, this earth and seasons
Everything must change)
Oh, you know
(Like a dream
A life, a reason
Everything must change)
Oh, yeah, yeah
Written By Paul Young, Ian Kewley
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