Forever (feat. Post Malone & Clever)

"Forever" is a heartfelt exploration of profound love and the desire for a lifelong commitment. The song, featured on Justin Bieber's album Changes, lyrically delves into the theme of finding a partner who fundamentally changes one's perspective on life and relationships. Primarily, it's a declaration of devotion, widely interpreted as being inspired by Bieber's marriage to Hailey Baldwin. Bieber’s verses express a sense of disbelief and gratitude for finding a love so powerful that it made him want to 'settle down,' a path he had never envisioned for himself. The lyrics articulate a journey from emotional isolation—'Set my feelings to the side, they all got dusty on the shelf'—to being saved and renewed by his partner's love.

Each featured artist adds a unique layer to this central theme. Post Malone’s verse introduces a more complicated and turbulent side of a long-term relationship, touching on arguments and the cyclical nature of breaking up and getting back together, yet still implying an unbreakable bond. This contrasts with the more idealized romance in Bieber's parts. Clever’s contribution returns to the core message of unwavering commitment, promising to love his partner '’til my dying day' and describing her as a guiding force who turns him around when he goes the wrong way. Ultimately, the song is a multi-perspective anthem about dedicating oneself completely to another person, acknowledging both the blissful security and the inherent challenges of promising forever.

The song's narrative is a multi-faceted exploration of eternal love and commitment, presented from the perspectives of three different artists. It opens with the central question that forms the song's core: a heartfelt plea for a lifelong union. The initial verses, delivered by the main artist, paint a picture of a man transformed by love. He reflects on his past self, a person who never envisioned settling down and was focused on solitude. His emotions were neglected, like forgotten items on a shelf, until his partner's arrival. She is credited with emotionally rescuing him when he had nothing left, making him a 'better man' and making him aware of the profound connection he was missing. This newfound clarity and devotion are so strong that he visualizes a future with her, so certain that he'd bet everything on their relationship's success. He poses grand, romantic questions, asking if she would stay with him until the end of time, even to watch the sun burn out, underscoring the infinite nature of his feelings.

The second perspective introduces a more turbulent and realistic view of a long-term relationship. This section delves into the complexities and struggles that can arise between partners. It touches on issues of trust, with direct questions about infidelity, and the cyclical nature of conflict, questioning how many times they will break up and reconcile. There's a sense of frustration and helplessness, an admission that some problems can't be easily fixed. This verse also acknowledges the tension that relationship issues can create with family, mentioning calls to a mother, and highlights a painful truth: that material wealth cannot purchase genuine love or solve deep-seated emotional issues. This part of the narrative adds a layer of raw honesty, contrasting the idyllic vision of forever with the practical challenges of maintaining it.

The final verse returns to a more straightforward and sincere pledge of lifelong love. This artist makes a direct promise to love his partner until his dying day. He describes intimate, comforting moments, like waking up with her face in his chest, and paints a picture of a luxurious, shared life, driving out of a private gate with their family name on the license plate. He admits that being alone was a lie he told himself and that whenever he strays or loses his way, she is the one who guides him back. This partner is depicted as a stabilizing force, a lighthouse that provides direction. The song concludes by reinforcing the central theme, with the recurring question of spending 'forever' together, framing solitude as the inferior alternative to a shared life. The combined narrative arc moves from a personal transformation through love, to the gritty realities of maintaining that love, and finally to a reaffirmed, unwavering promise of eternal devotion.

"Forever" was released on February 14, 2020, as the seventh track on Justin Bieber's fifth studio album, Changes. The album itself is a reflection of his first year of marriage to Hailey Baldwin, with many tracks dedicated to their relationship. The song was written by a team of collaborators including Justin Bieber, Austin Post (Post Malone), Joshua Huie (Clever), Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Louis Bell, Bernard "Harv" Harvey, Ali Darwish, and Billy Walsh. The production was handled by Poo Bear and Harv.

This track marks the second official collaboration between Justin Bieber and Post Malone, the first being "Deja Vu" from Malone's 2016 album Stoney. It was, however, Bieber's first time working with Alabama-based rapper Clever. According to reports, Bieber had completed his parts of the song and was waiting for Malone's contribution in early January 2020. Clever reportedly recorded his vocals for the track at GAD3 Studios in Gadsden, Alabama. The title of the song was significant to Bieber at the time, as he had recently gotten the word "Forever" tattooed on his neck, leading to speculation it might be the album's title.

The rhyme and rhythm in "Forever" are characteristic of the Pop-Trap genre, emphasizing flow and a conversational feel over strict, traditional poetic structures. The rhythm is driven by a mid-tempo, 136 BPM trap beat that provides a modern, rhythmic backbone for the vocal performances.

The rhyme scheme is generally irregular and fluid, relying heavily on assonance, consonance, and slant rhymes to connect lines rather than perfect end rhymes. For instance, in Bieber's verse, 'myself' and 'shelf' create a perfect rhyme, but the verse's flow is more dependent on the rhythmic cadence of the lines. An example of internal rhyme and assonance can be seen in Post Malone's verse: "How many times we gonna break up 'fore the summer? / How many times you gonna try to call my mother?"

The chorus is particularly rhythmic, using the staccato repetition of "forever, ever, ever" and "better, better, better" to create a catchy, percussive hook. This rhythmic repetition makes the chorus the most memorable part of the song and emphasizes the central theme. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm delivered by the vocalists and the underlying instrumental beat is smooth and synergistic, allowing the conversational and melodic aspects of the verses to glide over the trap-influenced percussion.

"Forever" showcases a blend of Pop and Trap, a stylistic choice that characterizes much of the Changes album. Musically, the song is built on a "jangly," upbeat production with a resonant beat and what critics have described as "plinking production" and "warm, nostalgic beats". The tempo is set at approximately 136 beats per minute in the key of C♯ minor.

The vocal delivery is a key stylistic component, featuring three distinct styles that complement each other. Justin Bieber’s delivery on the chorus is staccato and catchy, creating a memorable hook. Post Malone contributes his signature melodic rap style, which critics noted adds a "frantic tension" to the track. Clever’s verse is described as passionate and punchy, reflecting the song's emotional core. This collaborative structure allows each artist to bring their unique vocal texture while maintaining a cohesive theme.

Literarily, the song employs direct address, with the singers speaking directly to their romantic partners through rhetorical questions ("Could you be here with me forever, ever, ever?"). This technique creates a sense of intimacy and personal appeal. The repetition of the word "forever, ever, ever" acts as a lyrical motif that reinforces the central theme of eternal commitment.

"Forever" was released as a track on Justin Bieber's highly anticipated 2020 album, Changes. Upon its release, the song achieved notable chart success globally. In the United States, it debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it also became rapper Clever's first-ever entry on the chart. It performed strongly on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as well, entering at number six. The song also reached the top 40 in over 15 countries, including the UK, where it debuted at number 29, and Canada, where it reached the top 20.

Critically, the song was often highlighted as a standout track on the Changes album. Reviewers praised the collaboration, noting that the distinct styles of Bieber, Post Malone, and Clever complemented each other well. Billboard ranked it as the third-best song on the album, calling it "one of the most distinctive tracks". The song's blend of Pop, R&B, and Trap was seen as a successful representation of the album's overall sound. As part of the Changes: The Movement visual project, a dance video for the song was released on March 9, 2020, further promoting the track. While not released as an official single, its strong streaming numbers and positive reception solidified its place as a fan favorite within Bieber's discography.

The lyrics of "Forever" utilize several metaphors to convey the depth and transformative power of love.

• Emotional Renewal: Bieber uses the metaphor of dusty shelves to describe his neglected feelings before his partner's arrival: "Set my feelings to the side, they all got dusty on the shelf / You wiped them down when I had nothin' left." This imagery powerfully conveys a sense of emotional neglect and revitalization, casting his partner as a restorer who brought his feelings back to life.
• Guiding Light: Both Bieber and Clever employ the metaphor of their partner as a guiding force. Clever refers to his lover as a lighthouse, a classic symbol of guidance and safety through troubled times: "Every time I go the wrong way, you turn me back around." This suggests that their partners provide moral and emotional direction, keeping them on the right path.
• Eternal Scenarios: To emphasize the concept of "forever," Bieber uses a grand, almost cosmic image: "Would you watch the sun burn out with me forever, ever, ever, ever?" This hyperbolic scenario serves to illustrate a love that transcends time and even the lifespan of the solar system, symbolizing an ultimate and unending commitment.
• Gambling on Love: Bieber employs a gambling metaphor to express his certainty in the relationship's success: "Yeah, do you see us in Vegas pushin' that Monte Carlo? / Bet that money on baby, bet she don't leave me, oh, no." This comparison frames his commitment not as a risky bet, but as a sure thing he is willing to wager everything on.

The most prominent recurring motif in "Forever" is the titular phrase itself, repeated insistently throughout the chorus and outro: "Could you be here with me forever, ever, ever?" This repetition serves as the song's central thesis, constantly reinforcing the theme of seeking eternal commitment. The triple-repetition of "ever" adds emphasis and a rhythmic, memorable quality to the hook, embedding the core question in the listener's mind.

Another significant recurring phrase is "Wakin' up all alone ain't better, better, better," which acts as a direct answer to the song's central question. It provides the rationale for wanting a forever-love, stating unequivocally that partnership is preferable to solitude. The repetition of "better" mirrors the structure of "ever," creating a parallel that strengthens the song's message.

A recurring thematic motif is the idea of being guided or corrected by a partner. Both Bieber's line, "Every time I go the wrong way, you turn me back around," and Clever's verse convey this idea. This motif paints the relationship not just as a romantic partnership but as a stabilizing and redemptive force in the narrators' lives.