This was released on the first FireHouse album, but it was not their first single - that was an uptempo tune called "Don't Treat Me Bad," which held its own on the Hot 100, going to #19 in June 1991. "Love of a Lifetime" was the next single, and it became the band's biggest hit, making #5 in September.
This song almost didn't make the album, since CJ Snare didn't want to introduce it to the band. Part of his trepidation came from some bad medicine Jon Bon Jovi gave him: The singer told CJ that it would ruin his career if he released the song. Snare only told his bandmates and label about the song after they had completed the album and the label wasn't happy with the power ballad they had recorded for it, a song called "Midnight Fantasy." The label (Epic) floated the idea of bringing in outside writers to help, at which point Snare pulled out this song, which turned out to be exactly what they were looking for.
It's hard to believe that lead singer CJ Snare had not yet found his "love of a lifetime" when he wrote it, but that was the case.
"I thought it was a nice ideal and it was something cool to write about. And apparently it's panned out for a lot of people: We get a lot people that come up and say, 'We got married to that song and we're still married.'"
Lyrics
I guess the time was right for us to say
We'd take our time and live our lives
Together day by day
We'll make a wish and send it on a prayer
We know our dreams will all come true
With love that we can share
With you I never wonder - will you be there for me?
With you I never wonder - you're the right one for me?
I finally found the love of a lifetime
A love to last my whole life through
I finally found the love of a lifetime
Forever in my heart
I finally found the love of a lifetime
With every kiss, our love is like brand-new
And every star up in the sky
Was made for me and you
Still we both know that the road is long
We know that we will be together
Because our love is strong
I finally found the love of a lifetime
A love to last my whole life through
I finally found the love of a lifetime
Forever in my heart
I finally found the love of a lifetime
Ooh, I finally found the love of a lifetime
A love to last my whole life through, ooh
I finally found the love of a lifetime
Forever in my heart
I finally found the love of a lifetime (I finally found the love of a lifetime)
Love of a lifetime (I finally found the love of a lifetime)
I finally found the love (I finally found the love of a lifetime)
Ooh, forever in my heart
I finally found the love of a lifetime, ooh