I'm not sure this song is about death literally, as it is about the death of a relationship -- and his home. Neither the place he once knew personally or geographically is still there.
If his girlfriend really were dying, would he apologize for not loving her back, for not caring enough in "these last days?" It seems more like a reference to a relationship that is dead that he just can't revive, because the love has gone. And the town he once knew, that seemed so heaven-like, obviously has withered. Obviously, the town is still there. It's simply not what it once was -- just like that old flame.
Still, it it heartache personified. It would be hard to find a more haunting song.
@grahamdalton this is exactly right. More than the death of a loved one, this is more of a realization that the past relationship --- much like the place where he - and we all grew up -- was once beautiful and amazing. Now, sadly, it has become unrecognizable. Nothing like the memory suggests. He begs the world to remember what he once had when life was so simple and innocent -- "what about the sweetness we knew" "what about what's good what's true". Why can't it be like it once was? It may not be his ex, or his...
@grahamdalton this is exactly right. More than the death of a loved one, this is more of a realization that the past relationship --- much like the place where he - and we all grew up -- was once beautiful and amazing. Now, sadly, it has become unrecognizable. Nothing like the memory suggests. He begs the world to remember what he once had when life was so simple and innocent -- "what about the sweetness we knew" "what about what's good what's true". Why can't it be like it once was? It may not be his ex, or his hometown, but more likely his perception or realization of it all. A vicious lesson of reality for all of us. This is a brilliant observation of a beautiful, tragic song form you graham dalton
I'm not sure this song is about death literally, as it is about the death of a relationship -- and his home. Neither the place he once knew personally or geographically is still there. If his girlfriend really were dying, would he apologize for not loving her back, for not caring enough in "these last days?" It seems more like a reference to a relationship that is dead that he just can't revive, because the love has gone. And the town he once knew, that seemed so heaven-like, obviously has withered. Obviously, the town is still there. It's simply not what it once was -- just like that old flame. Still, it it heartache personified. It would be hard to find a more haunting song.
to be fair, he wrote "Drop" about a girl he was with that was dying.
to be fair, he wrote "Drop" about a girl he was with that was dying.
@grahamdalton this is exactly right. More than the death of a loved one, this is more of a realization that the past relationship --- much like the place where he - and we all grew up -- was once beautiful and amazing. Now, sadly, it has become unrecognizable. Nothing like the memory suggests. He begs the world to remember what he once had when life was so simple and innocent -- "what about the sweetness we knew" "what about what's good what's true". Why can't it be like it once was? It may not be his ex, or his...
@grahamdalton this is exactly right. More than the death of a loved one, this is more of a realization that the past relationship --- much like the place where he - and we all grew up -- was once beautiful and amazing. Now, sadly, it has become unrecognizable. Nothing like the memory suggests. He begs the world to remember what he once had when life was so simple and innocent -- "what about the sweetness we knew" "what about what's good what's true". Why can't it be like it once was? It may not be his ex, or his hometown, but more likely his perception or realization of it all. A vicious lesson of reality for all of us. This is a brilliant observation of a beautiful, tragic song form you graham dalton