Angels

I just listened to this song five times in a row on the way to work this morning. It is perhaps the most straightforward and earnest declaration of love committed to song. It will be my wedding song.

I think it's about three distinct phases of falling in love with someone.

Phase One: The Meeting "Light reflects from your shadow It is more than I thought could exist You move through the room Like breathing was easy."

That's about seeing someone and instantly becoming smitten with them. Their every movement is magical. And that feeling is so personal that if she could share it with you, make you understand what she alone is seeing you'd be "in love with you as I am."

Phase Two: Getting To Know You "And everyday I am learning about you The things that no one else sees And the end comes too soon"

Spending time with someone and they share secrets and you fall for them even more and understand their deeper selves. This phase of love also has that sense of yearning, like when you spend time with someone and now it's time to go home, or it's 1am and you have to get off the phone. That feeling is like "dreaming of angels, and leaving without them."

Phase Three: Reciprocity/Commitment "And with words unspoken A silent devotion I know you know what I mean And the end is unknown But I think I'm ready As long as you're with me"

Remember the end of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" where Joel and Clementine know how their relationship will end but they shrug it off and decide to be together anyway? That's the fear most of us have when we fall in love and are ready to commit to another person, but will it work? Will we have kids? Will we hate each other? She's saying "We love each other, the future is scary but I'm okay to go forward as long as I love you as much as you love me."