I'm not sure I fully buy into the song being about depression/suicide. I think it's about love and life. I actually think it's optimistic, rather than sad. I cried the first time I heard it because of it's beautiful words and message.
It starts by talking about good times and remembering those (waltzing and dancing). It moves to talking about when things go wrong, and how you have to find the will within yourself to try and live.
Next, it talks about things becoming bad and having to use the piano as firewood. The piano is a beautiful metaphor for the author's desperation. For me (and I imagine like many musicians, Regina included), the act of breaking apart a piano and burning it is horrific. I think she's trying to say that things in life have not gotten bad enough that you have to cut your losses and part with the things you love (or you doesn't have to use the piano as firewood), but soon it might come to that. And if it does, you will have your friends alongside you.
She continues, by telling people to stop judging, because they don't fully understand what someone is going through. Then she explains that in life we get hurt and upset, but it's better to get hurt in any situation because you are trying to do good (for yourself or others, such as in love), rather than not trying or being apathetic.
She continues to warn us that if we hold on to our past mistakes and regrets that life will pass us by. We won't realize it until it's too late, and by that point there's nothing to do but cry.
The last verse I feel is the most powerful. She's saying that if we take the time to appreciate what we have and to love, we will live a more fulfilling life. She concludes with the notion that we put ourselves through the pain of relationships and love, because it's better to have experienced it than not. We do it even though we know it can hurt and we will cry, but that is true living: having passion and love, rather than being apathetic to life and wasting away (dying).
I also read that last verse as if my Mom was reassuring me after a bad break-up, "You may feel terrible now, but this terrible feeling will go away. You're going to find someone you truly love, and you'll put yourself out there again, even though it may be painful, because it's worth it."
From this viewpoint, I think it's clear that Regina is definitely taking a more optimistic looks on life rather than gloomy ones, but that's just my opinion.
much agreed. I think sad and yet optimistic songs are the songs that are truly powerful . Black Box Recorder is another band that makes sad songs that give me strength when I'm down
much agreed. I think sad and yet optimistic songs are the songs that are truly powerful . Black Box Recorder is another band that makes sad songs that give me strength when I'm down
@laurenh141 I agree that it is optimistic, fiercely optimistic. In a sense that the natural skepticism in us is not only challenged, but banished. This is a truly great song, which the writer I am guessing would prefer not to perform too often, and which I am guessing took a lot from the writer in the writing.
@laurenh141 I agree that it is optimistic, fiercely optimistic. In a sense that the natural skepticism in us is not only challenged, but banished. This is a truly great song, which the writer I am guessing would prefer not to perform too often, and which I am guessing took a lot from the writer in the writing.
I'm not sure I fully buy into the song being about depression/suicide. I think it's about love and life. I actually think it's optimistic, rather than sad. I cried the first time I heard it because of it's beautiful words and message.
It starts by talking about good times and remembering those (waltzing and dancing). It moves to talking about when things go wrong, and how you have to find the will within yourself to try and live.
Next, it talks about things becoming bad and having to use the piano as firewood. The piano is a beautiful metaphor for the author's desperation. For me (and I imagine like many musicians, Regina included), the act of breaking apart a piano and burning it is horrific. I think she's trying to say that things in life have not gotten bad enough that you have to cut your losses and part with the things you love (or you doesn't have to use the piano as firewood), but soon it might come to that. And if it does, you will have your friends alongside you.
She continues, by telling people to stop judging, because they don't fully understand what someone is going through. Then she explains that in life we get hurt and upset, but it's better to get hurt in any situation because you are trying to do good (for yourself or others, such as in love), rather than not trying or being apathetic.
She continues to warn us that if we hold on to our past mistakes and regrets that life will pass us by. We won't realize it until it's too late, and by that point there's nothing to do but cry.
The last verse I feel is the most powerful. She's saying that if we take the time to appreciate what we have and to love, we will live a more fulfilling life. She concludes with the notion that we put ourselves through the pain of relationships and love, because it's better to have experienced it than not. We do it even though we know it can hurt and we will cry, but that is true living: having passion and love, rather than being apathetic to life and wasting away (dying).
I also read that last verse as if my Mom was reassuring me after a bad break-up, "You may feel terrible now, but this terrible feeling will go away. You're going to find someone you truly love, and you'll put yourself out there again, even though it may be painful, because it's worth it."
From this viewpoint, I think it's clear that Regina is definitely taking a more optimistic looks on life rather than gloomy ones, but that's just my opinion.
much agreed. I think sad and yet optimistic songs are the songs that are truly powerful . Black Box Recorder is another band that makes sad songs that give me strength when I'm down
much agreed. I think sad and yet optimistic songs are the songs that are truly powerful . Black Box Recorder is another band that makes sad songs that give me strength when I'm down
@laurenh141 I agree that it is optimistic, fiercely optimistic. In a sense that the natural skepticism in us is not only challenged, but banished. This is a truly great song, which the writer I am guessing would prefer not to perform too often, and which I am guessing took a lot from the writer in the writing.
@laurenh141 I agree that it is optimistic, fiercely optimistic. In a sense that the natural skepticism in us is not only challenged, but banished. This is a truly great song, which the writer I am guessing would prefer not to perform too often, and which I am guessing took a lot from the writer in the writing.
@laurenh141 also..she has a lot of great songs and too much focus on this one song as her opus would be a disservice to her as an artist
@laurenh141 also..she has a lot of great songs and too much focus on this one song as her opus would be a disservice to her as an artist