“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
I still get goose-bumps thinking about the moment John Denver sat down at the piano and began those first, gentle chords of “For You.” It wasn’t just another concert—it was The Wildlife Concert, a 1995 special filmed for A&E as part of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s centennial celebration. Denver had spent the early ’90s renewing his commitment to environmental causes, and this show was his way of marrying two loves: his music and the planet he adored.
As the lights dimmed, you could feel a hush sweep through the audience. Denver’s voice—richer and deeper than ever, a testament to both age and experience—floated over the notes, pure as mountain air. Unlike his usual guitar-driven hits, “For You” was performed at the piano, backed by a string quartet whose warm harmonies wrapped around the melody like a soft blanket. It’s the only song in that set where Denver traded his guitar for ivory keys, and it instantly became the emotional centerpiece of the evening.
What makes this rendition truly special is how it bridges Denver’s classic romanticism with the maturity of a man who’d seen both triumphs and struggles. You can sense it in the slight tremor when he sings “I want to give it all to you,” as though every word carries the weight of a lifelong journey. And all the while, he never loses that conversational warmth that made fans feel like they were right there in his living room.
Beyond the music, there are moments between songs when Denver speaks of forests he’s visited and animals he fears may vanish if we don’t act soon. It’s gentle advocacy, woven seamlessly into the performance, reminding us that his artistry and his activism were always one and the same.
If you haven’t experienced “For You” from The Wildlife Concert, treat yourself to this emotional gem. It’s more than a song—it’s a love letter, both to someone special and to the natural world Denver dedicated his life to protecting.
Video
Lyrics
Just to look in your eyes again
Just to lay in your arms
Just to be the first one always there for you
Just to live in your laughter
Just to sing in your heart
Just to be everyone of your dreams come true
Just to sit by your window
Just to touch in the night
Just to offer a prayer each day for you
Just to long for your kisses
Just to dream of your sighs
Just to know that I’d give my life for you
For you, for the rest of my life
For you, all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you
Just to wake up each morning
Just to you by my side
Just to know that you’re never really far away
Just a reason for living
Just to say, “I adore”
Just to know that you’re here in my heart to stay
For you for, the rest of my life
For you all, the best of my life
For you alone, only for you
Just the words of a love song
Just the beat of my heart
Just the pledge of my life, my love, for you