Last Alone

A subtle light
Frays and scatters
Shadows calling down
Alluding to the days

I forgot why I left
I thought I'd be the one to last alone

The vespers chime
Distant hours
Softly questioning
Every step I have taken

I forgot why I left
I thought I'd be the one to last alone

- Daylight Dies (2008)

Now that we've gotten some of the old stuff out of our systems, I thought maybe I would move it in to the 21st Century for the first time. This particular song is a little off the radar of most, but not quite as far as I wanted to go. The song I really wanted couldn't be put up due to lack of reliable lyrics. I guess I'll have to try again soon.

There's not much to say on the history of this song or band as Daylight Dies has been rolling under the mainstream radar since around 2000. Their record label could be one reason why - Candlelight Records puts out some top shelf music. Indeed, some of the best albums in my collection come from Candlelight Records. The problem is that the label does not seem to be all that good when it comes to distribution and marketing. As for the song itself, it is sung in clean vocals (which my countpart is sure to appreciate) but is a very sad song.

We all sometimes come to a point in our lives and realize that we are not where we want to be. There are as many reasons for this as there are people in the world, but for whatever reason not even the best laid plans bear the desired fruit. We sit and question how we got to that point. The problem we are faced with in this song is that the singer has forgotten why he set on his path.

If this sounds like a familiar theme, then you win the prize. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) outlines the story of a boy who left home, reached a low point in is life and realized how good he had it at home, and returns to find redemption. We see this story in the song. Unfortunately, there seems to be no redemption for the singer as we only hear the regret of his journey and not any of his plans for redemption.

We all come to a point where we realize that we may not really be where we want to be in life. It's a tragedy, however, when one seems to just give up, as the singer seems to have done. I myself have felt what he is feeling on occasion, but I then take the step of evaluating where I am going and how to get where I need to be. I knew going in the path was never going to be easy and I would get lost on the way, but I know I will get to where I want to be.

The song is indeed sad, but if we can take the lesson it tries to teach us, we can find the positive. At least that's how it makes me feel when I listen to it. I'm curious to see how my counterpart feels after she listens to it.

Next time there is going to be something a little unexpected. I hope she's ready.

Time to put the iPod on shuffle.