Saturday, December 13, 2008

(I'm not) Scared at Night

Before we left for Spain I picked up the latest Kathleen Edwards album 'Asking for Flowers'. Now, after several listens while driving through snowstorms in the winter darkness to and from work, I have really got into it. The song, 'Scared at Night' is one I find quite poignant and touching.

Here are the lyrics:

As a child I would wake at night.
I was scared but I kept real quiet.
Shadows on the walls moving in on me...
And underneath my sheets I could barely breathe.
And your room was only just across the hall.
All it would have taken was a single call.
But maybe sometimes we've got to trust ourselves not to scream out loud, and run like hell...

Believe me, all our days here are unsure.
Believe in me, I don't want to anymore.
And in the dark, picture me in your mind.
And I'll lay with you.
You don't have to be scared at night.

As a young man you were shooting rats.
By accident you hit the farmyard cat.
He ran for the fields and came back the next day.
You'd blown out his eye and you could see his brain.
That's it boy, there is some things in life, you don't want to do, but you know is right.
So take him out back and finish him off. Got your gun off the shelf, it only took one shot.

Believe me, all our days here are unsure.
Believe in me, I don't want to anymore.
And in the dark, picture me in your mind.
And I'll lay with you, so you don't have to be scared at night.

And I flew away and I paid on your final day.
They said that you waited 'til I came.
We sang your favorite hymns and we held your hand.
You took your final breath and that was that.
But I'd never seen a person die before.
I tried so hard not to cry and all...
'Cause maybe sometimes we've got to trust ourselves, that when you die you go some place else.

Believe me, all our days here are unsure.
Believe in me, I don't want to anymore.
And in the dark, picture me in your mind.
And I'll lay with you.
You don't have to be scared at night.
You don't have to be scared at night.
You don't have to be scared at night

-Kathleen Edwards (Scared at Night)

It has the right amount of sadness and questioning in the lyrics to make you feel and wonder. From a Christian perspective it makes you feel good and reassured about the hope that you have. Maybe that is why I enjoy sad/melancholy music so much more than silly/joyful music. It is more raw and real and I, for one, can relate very easily. The music is also fantastic. It is real Canadian Indie-Folk-Rock at it's best. She is coming to Ottawa in February so if anyone wants to see her at the Bronson Centre, I will go with you.
Today, however, Irene and I plan to head up to the Black Sheep Inn to catch Toronto pianist Royal Wood. I believe I posted a romantic music video for his song 'Juliet' in the past.

No comments: