The phrase “love one another” resonates deeply, appearing in pop culture anthems and ancient religious texts alike. One iconic example is the 1960s folk-rock hit “Get Together,” famously performed by The Youngbloods. Its central lyric, “Come on people now, Smile on your brother / Everybody get together / Try to love one another, right now,” became an enduring call for peace and unity during a turbulent era. Examining these “love one another” song lyrics reveals a powerful sentiment that tapped into a widespread desire for connection and harmony.
Released in 1967 and later re-popularized, “Get Together” captured the hopeful spirit of the time. Written by Chester William Powers Jr. (Dino Valenti), the song’s simple yet potent message, carried by a memorable melody and harmonies, resonated with listeners. While the song enjoyed success, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, its lyrical call to action — simply urging people to love one another — prompts a deeper question about the nature and source of such transformative love.
The lyrics of “Get Together” blend introspection with exhortation:
Some may come and some may go. We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here returns for us at last
We are but a moment’s sunlight Fading into grass.
This acknowledgement of human transience and accountability leads directly into the famous refrain. The song suggests that despite our fleeting existence, we have the power and responsibility to connect and love. It’s a beautiful expression of common grace, acknowledging the innate capacity within people to strive for good and treat each other with kindness.
However, like many idealistic calls for change, the song’s message faces the challenge of implementation. Can merely singing “love one another” truly change the world? The desire is noble, and such lyrics can certainly inspire individuals. Yet, history shows that widespread, lasting transformation based solely on human effort to “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps” remains elusive. The question lingers: where does the power to genuinely and consistently love one another come from?
Long before “Get Together,” a similar, yet profoundly different, call to love was issued. Jesus of Nazareth gave his followers a “new commandment”: to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34-35). This is echoed throughout the New Testament, emphasizing a love that transcends mere sentiment.
Unlike the hopeful plea in “love one another” song lyrics, Jesus’ command is rooted in his actions and empowered by his example. His love was not just a feeling; it was demonstrated through self-sacrifice, culminating in his death for his followers. He had just washed their feet as an act of humble service before giving this commandment. The call was not simply to “try to love one another,” but to love in imitation of his own radical, self-giving love.
This divine standard elevates the concept of loving one another beyond a cultural ideal. It becomes a transformative practice meant to identify his followers: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). The authenticity of this love is further tied to unity among believers, as highlighted in his prayer for unity (John 17:20-26).
The theological depth continues, revealing an even more profound foundation for this love. According to scripture, Jesus’ love for his followers mirrored the supernatural love and unity shared within the Godhead – Father, Son, and Spirit. The call to love one another as Jesus loved us is, in essence, a call to participate in a love that reflects the dynamic, reciprocal relationship within the Trinity.
This concept, sometimes discussed as the “social trinity” or “perichoresis,” suggests that the community of believers, when loving one another in this divinely-patterned way, can become an earthly image of the Trinitarian community. While finite humans can never perfectly replicate infinite divine attributes like mercy, justice, or holiness, they are called to imitate them. Loving one another as Jesus loved empowers followers to reflect this ultimate reality in their relationships. This makes the community of those who follow Jesus, striving to love one another with this divine love, a powerful testament to the world.
The desire expressed in “love one another” song lyrics like “Get Together” captures a universal human longing for connection and peace. However, the Christian teaching offers not just a sentiment, but a command rooted in divine action, powered by divine example, and reflecting the very nature of God. It’s a call to a deeper, more challenging, and ultimately more transformative love than simple exhortation alone can achieve.
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love (John 15:10, NLT).