Hi guys and gals, happy Friday! It’s dreary here in Seattle, but I’m enjoying my little time I have left since I leave on Monday. Jesse’s sister gets in tonight to spend the last weekend I’m here as a trio, so I’m excited about that. It’ll be a ton of fun.
So, I was driving in the car the other day listening to Mumford & Sons and I started thinking about how all of their songs are really emotional. Some are uplifting, some aren’t so uplifting, but they are all real. Each song kind of stirs something up in me and makes me think about my life. We’ve been doing music therapy at my internship and I thought “The Cave” was a great song for everyone to listen to who is going through a change for the better. Then I thought I should post the lyrics on the blog. Then I thought I should just post songs every once in a while I like and think might be good for everyone to listen to and comment on if they choose to do so. Or, I just think Marcus Mumford is kind of dreamy, so I wanted an excuse to post a picture of him. You decide.
Normally, I’m not a big fan of the ‘stache because I think it’s creepy, but it works for Marcus. Maybe it’s the whole folk-indie, British thing?
Anyway, I embedded the video and pasted the lyrics for ya’ll.
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
It’s empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you’ve left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker’s land
So make your siren’s call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it’s meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
Discussion
There are a lot of parts about this song that make me think about times in my life where I felt I was making changes for the better. It specifically makes me think about when I was depressed. It starts out kind of sad – “It’s empty in the valley of your heart”
The next few lines make me think about my journey to becoming a counselor. I found strength in my pain. I did change my ways. I decided to forgo law school and become a mental health counselor. I had felt so constricted by what I thought I should do with my life, my relationships, with everything. I opened myself up to living my life as it was meant to be.
The lyrics that I felt once applied to me – the noose around my neck – turned into me singing them to the people I hope to see in my practice in the future. As someone who has walked the path from depression to an alternative way of living my life, I now feel equipped to help others change their ways.
The last line – I’ll know my name as it’s called again – hits so final at the end of the song. The whole tempo of the song picks up from tragic to triumphant. That’s how I feel about my life when this song ends. I know myself now. Sure, I’m still on a journey and I hope it never stops.
Questions
What did you guys think of the song? Did it stir anything up for you?
Any requests/suggestions for future songs?
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