I Do (Ring of Gold)

“I DO”, is the quintessential wedding song for the new millennium. The song’s lyrics express the true essence of love and commitment by using the traditional wedding vows in its chorus. Although a Pop/R&B wedding song, I Do, is endorsed by the United States Pastor’s Association for use in spiritual weddings. (You know how hard it is to get a secular song approved by your pastor so you know the value of this endorsement!)

This is a good song for Lighting of the Unity Candle or the Processional.

John Beal, III wrote the music for the song and it was produced by Phil Davis (Boney James, George Duke, Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell) and Palmer Williams, Jr. (House of Payne, Love Thy Neighbor, Monica, LSG, Keith Sweat, A Good Man Is Hard To Find!, Can A Woman Make A Man Lose His Mind?, What a Man Wants…What a Woman Needs) so the music production is symphonic and creates the emotional atmosphere of which memorable melodies are made.

I wrote ‘I DO’ as a gift for my brother’s wedding.   I figured that I couldn’t go wrong if I used the actual wedding vows as the chorus.   When people hear the song for the first time they sing along with the chorus because they feel like they already know it… I think that’s why so many people really like the song!

“…For better or worse
I’ll stay the course
For richer or poor
We will endure
In the thick and the thin
I’ll be there till the end
On this day I will say,
I do…”

In an effort to release a wedding song for everybody, “I DO” was recorded in two different styles.   They are differentiated by the instrumentation used, and the lyrics in the song’s bridge.

The Traditional/Mainstream (Ring of Gold) version features internationally acclaimed violinist Kenneth Ford.   Additionally, the song’s bridge offers a mass-market appeal:

You’ll wear a ring of gold, as we grow old
Our love will survive
The vows we take, the love we’ll make
Will stand the test of time, all time

The Precious Memories version features Randall Rivers (Maxwell, Beal Street, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor) on electric guitar.  The bridge on this version brings back memories of the times that many brides and grooms experienced while growing up as children:

It once was air guitars and Hot Wheel cars
Barbie loves Ken
Batman capes and doll house drapes
Is where it all began, and then… oh

I decided to write two versions of the song because all types of people get married every single day.   Hopefully, one of the versions of “I DO” can be a part of your special day!”

I DO  (Ring of Gold) – Radio Edit 5:15

Lyrics by:  E. Walter Smith

Music by:  John Beal

Produced by:  Phil Davis, Jr.

Background Vocals by:  Palmer Williams, Jr.

Violin by:  Ken Ford

Guitar by: Randall Rivers