“Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler

“Wind Beneath My Wings” was written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henry in 1982, and recorded by Bette Midler for the album “Beaches”
Credit: Atlantic Records

“Wind Beneath My Wings,” recorded by Bette Midler in 1988, was a short-lived number one hit. This ballad serves as the signature song to the album and Academy Award nominated melodrama of the same name, “Beaches.” The movie co-stars Midler and Barbara Hershey. It is the story of lifelong friendship between two women from very different backgrounds.

This melancholy melody is played while C.C. (Midler) spends one last summer at the beach with her friend, Hillary, (Hershey) as she is dying from a rare cardiac infection. Those who have seen this movie cannot hear this song without making a connection to that poignant scene. It has since become a common tribute to loved ones at memorials and funerals across the globe.

The song begins with an acknowledgement of the positive influence a special person has had on their life; how his or her tireless support has allowed them to shine:

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way,
you always walked a step behind.

An eagle effortlessly soars through skies above

As the chorus later escalates, the heart of the matter is revealed. This person is truly the hero to be celebrated. They recognize it is only because of those selfless acts that they can truly soar:

Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
’cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

The song continues to further reveal the reverence this individual holds for the intended recipient of the song.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing without you.

The crescendo echoes these sentiments even further, ending the song with a powerful prayer resonating with much love and remembrance.

Fly, fly, fly away,
you let me fly so high.
Oh, fly, fly,
so high against the sky, so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you,
the wind beneath my wings

The official YouTube video for “Wind Beneath My Wings” has garnered nearly 18 million views. Comments from viewers reiterate the song’s solemn significance to so many people, who have lost someone special to them.

Most people do not realize that “Wind Beneath My Wings” was recorded by a myriad of singers prior to Midler’s rendition in 1988. So, if you prefer the sentimentality, but you are not a Midler fan, perhaps Sheena Easton (1982), Lou Rawls (1982), or Gladys Knight & the Pips (1983)  could do you or your loved one well. There were also various covers of the song by artists including Willie Nelson, Jack Jones, Perry Como, Patti LaBelle.