What's Forever For

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

"What's Forever For"
Song by England Dan & John Ford Coley
from the album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive
Released	March 1979
Recorded	October 1978
Genre	Soft rock
Length	3:25
Label	Big Tree
Songwriter(s)	Rafe Van Hoy
Producer(s)	Kyle Lehning

"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, soft rock
Length	2:52
Label	Liberty 1466
Songwriter(s)	Rafe Van Hoy
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. The song 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

Weekly charts

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

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100[6]	93
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7]	42
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8]	3

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.
• Daryl Somers on his 1982 single.
• Johnny Mathis on his 1982 album Friends in Love, released on Columbia Records.
• Jeff Trachta and Bobbie Eakes, on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful and on their 1994 album Bold and Beautiful Duets.
• 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.
• 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.
• Olivia Newton-John on her 1998 album Back With a Heart, Japanese release.