Into the Dark

This week, "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie has intrigued me.
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark

The song depicts a person speaking to a loved one about remaining by her side after death. At least that's how Wikipedia describes it. I don't disagree with this analysis of the song, that is indeed what it's about. I have to wonder though, based on both the feel and the lyrics if the singer intends to remain by her side in life, or to follow her into death completely.

The song describes heaven and hell, yet also describes death as "the blackest of rooms" with "No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white." This is interesting because it makes you think about the spiritual beliefs of the singer, brought out even more when he describes his attendance of catholic school, and his experience therein.

Between these two, I seem to get the feeling that the singer is willing to simply remain with his loved one in spirit, but is also perhaps willing to literally follow her by his own death. The couple in this song have apparently been together for quite some time, as is stated with "You and me have seen everything to see," indicating dedication to each other.

There are many possible overarching messages in this song, and it's hard to fully grasp all of them at once. I like this piece since it provides so many different ideas about death whether to oneself or to someone close. It still leaves me with much food for thought after listening, not something every song can claim.

Subdividing Ourselves

This week, "Subdivisions" by Rush has intrigued me.
Subdivisions - Rush

"Subdivisions" was written and released in 1982. The title and the lyrics indicate several meanings.

The first two lines of the song note how on the broadest scale possible humanity divides itself, and divides those divisions. One can think of countries, states, territories, counties, cities, towns, all the way down to blocks and buildings themselves. I think that makes an interesting statement about human nature right there.

The song describes the so called "cool" and "uncool" crowds mostly common among teenagers. As a high school student myself, I have obviously observed this at work firsthand. However, the situation seems to have changed in 41 years. I see these cultures exist, however yet more subdivisions have occurred. I notice the "cool" crowd having broken down into several cultures, and the "uncool" crowd has as well. No longer is "the dreamer or the misfit so alone" because now there are more dreamers and misfits than ever. Why be afraid if nobody else is afraid?

I think that "Subdivisions" also comments on how adults live their lives also. Rush talks about "selling dreams for small desires", "los[ing] the race to rats", and of a "restless flight". I'll let you ponder these statements also, but I am amazed by the message.

So I am left wondering, is it human nature or not to subdivide? Can we change this trend, or do we even want to?

When I Grow Up, Wondering All the Way

Recently, I have been listening to "When I Grow Up" from Matilda the Musical.
"When I Grow Up" From the Musical
"When I Grow Up" Performed by Tim Minchin, the Play's Composer

To me, this song is a wonderful example of hope. Tim Minchin brilliantly provides a powerful philosophy from the perspective of little girl. I love this song whenever I need to drive myself through anything difficult.

Matilda hopes in this song, dreaming of her future, and she wonders. This childlike wonder that the song expresses reminds me of an article by Micheal Mazenko entitled "Awaiting - still - a renaissance of wonder". I read this article in my English class a few weeks ago, and didn't think too much of it. However, listening to "When I Grow Up" reminded me of it, and I revisited the sense of wonder that Mazenko discusses. It really didn't seem complete though, and I recalled another view of the article also studied in class. A retired English teacher wrote about it and added some interesting points. She puts this frame of wonder into perspective after one has grown up and lost some childhood innocence.

So why do these articles matter? After reading them, I came to more of an understanding about wonder. One can be innocent, but you can do well to maintain a sense of reality. This makes it all the more real, and I believe it is therefore ultimately more powerful.

So now whenever I listen to the happy lyrics in "When I Grow Up", I get a wonderful sense of hope and happiness.