Love of mine
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light
Or tunnels, to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son, fear is the heart of love," so I never went back
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
But it's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light
Or tunnels, to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son, fear is the heart of love," so I never went back
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
But it's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
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It seems like this verse is included to explain why he doesn't particularly care for either heaven or hell, instead just seeing the afterlife as a darkness.
His teacher told him that fear is the heart of love, and he rejects that notion. That's essentially what that verse boils down to. This fits in with the rest of this song because the main thrust of the song is soothing fears.
He's saying don't be afraid, I'm going to be with you, etc. "It's nothing to cry about." He's defining his love, and he is going out of his way to emphasize that fear should have no part in it.
Being a Christian and a Catholic, this statement just isnt true. Yes, we're told to fear God's power so that we dont act like we're the shit and that we can do whatever we want. Fear, however, does not produce love and never has. Ask any Christian and they will tell you that having "fear" for God produces absolutely nothing. Just in general, "true and pure love" can only be produced from something positive, not negative. Fear is a complicated issue because people try to justify it as something negative, that creates a positive. Regardless of what you may believe or think, only someone who truly studies or participates in certain practices knows the true content of what is being discussed. Great song. Not a bad interpretation with the rest of the argument
You say that like it's a fact or something, and we all know the bible is just one big grand story, nothing more.
@ Kay 8D
So in other words, it's a biased opinion?
@ Hansen587
I used to be Catholic/Christian as well, participating in all the rituals, following the rules, knowing the religion, etc... so therefore, what I say about it has merit (is essentially your argument, right?) and I say it was no different than any other cult in the world. Some good things can come out of religious belief, sometimes. but most of the time, it's detrimental to the world, especially when establishment is involved. God may not be the one telling us to fear him (because it has not been proven that anyone ever has heard the voice of god or seen him) but the majority of his deluded followers are sure spreading that message.
@ buriedalive333
And your proof of this definition comes from? Oh that's right, the fictional book.
-A Catholic
It is a fact that many older people after being married for 50 and 60 years grow extremely close. When one dies, the other often dies soon thereafter. And that is mainly the concept this song is trying to convey.
"I will follow you into the dark." = I will always be there for you when you are uncertain, even into the greatest uncertainty of all...death.
It reminds me of the end of "Passenger Seat" from Transatlanticism. "When you are embarrassed, I'll be your pride, when you need direction, then I'll be the guide, for all time."
This is what I always think about when i hear this song.
Love of mine
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
[This shows that he is acknowledging the fact that one day his lover will die, and there is no escaping that fate which all humans face. However, he is reassuring his lover that he will follow her into death and be with her for whatever is to come.]
No blinding light
Or tunnels, to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
[This line suggests that he doesn't believe that you immediately go to Heaven after death. In Catholicism, it is believed that after death a soul goes to Purgatory where they await fate. You don't know yet if you are going to Heaven or Hell, and have to "wait" for whatever is to come, hence "waiting for the hint of a spark".]
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
[This line is so beautiful. He is telling his lover that if in Purgatory it is decided that he is not fit for Heaven or Hell, he will await the fate of his lover. If she is destined the same fate as he is, hence "if there's no one beside you when your soul embarks", he will follow her to wherever it is she must go. The dark symbolizes the unknown.]
Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
I held my tongue as she told me, son
Fear is the heart of love, so I never went back
[This line is about what a teacher of his said to him back when he was at school, which may or may not have inspired him to write this song. "Fear is the heart of love" means that fearing love is natural, and love can only be felt through fear. He did not believe this, and never went back to the school because the thought of what the teacher had said to him was so powerful that he did not want to go back.]
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
The soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms
[This, I believe, are the most powerful lines in the whole song. It's saying that him and his lover are near the end of their lifetime on Earth. His lover is scared, but he is reassuring her that they won't be apart for long.]
This song is just so beautiful and powerful. I hope one day to experience a love this strong.
The second verse is a story of assurance of this. When he explains that the nun told him that "fear is the heart of love", and so he never returned, he is saying that he is confident and sure of their love for each other, and isn't afraid to say that he will follow her anywhere.
The third verse is a different kind of assurance. It seems his love's time has come: "the soles of your shoes are all worn down, the time for sleep is now". He is telling her not to worry, that death isn't scary or bad:"it's nothing to cry about", an that they will together again in the "blackest of rooms", that is, of course, peaceful oblivion.
The main line,"I will follow you into the dark", does not neccessarily mean she is going to hell, rather that he will follow her into the unknown, totally trusting their love in being utterly unconditional.
It's a beautiful song.
I wrote a song very similar to this, but going back to my old Plans CD, I then realized I must have been subconsciously inspired by the song. <3 Death Cab.
The part about "vacancy signs," I think is saying that he trusts in his beliefs, but if what he believes doesn't accept them together, he will face the resulting nothingness. He will go into a scary, dark, and ultimately unknown place for her, because there is nothing else that matters but her.
Overall, the song is trying to express the deep emotion that the artist feels toward his love, and how he would be willing to face anything for her.