The reference to Hugh MacLennan leads to what the song is all about.
The third stanza is lifted almost directly from MacLennan's novel, The Watch that Ends the Night: "But that night as I drove back to Montreal I at least discovered this: that there's no simple explanation for anything important any of us do, and that the human tragedy, or the human irony, consists in the necessity of living with the consequences of actions performed under the pressure of compulsions so obscure we do not and cannot understand them."
The novel deals with a man who marries his childhood sweetheart (who is in poor health) after her husband is reported killed in the war. The husband's return precipitates a crisis.
The song more or less expresses what the novel is all about. Courage couldn't come at a worse time, but also, it didn't come when it was needed. It isn't about living with the consequences of doing something terrible so much as it's about living with the consequences of the ordinary decisions we make, and equally, regretting what we fail to do.
wow, wonderdog.. that is a very interesting and insightful explanation of this song. What is interesting is that this song was used in a movie 'the sweet hereafter' which Sarah Polley covers.
wow, wonderdog.. that is a very interesting and insightful explanation of this song. What is interesting is that this song was used in a movie 'the sweet hereafter' which Sarah Polley covers.
I really enjoyed your thoughts on this song and wonder if this is something you wrote yourself or did you learn it from another source? either way its great! (i realize this post is over 8 years old however music and the topics related to them are timeless, my attempt to subdue those interested in derailing...
I really enjoyed your thoughts on this song and wonder if this is something you wrote yourself or did you learn it from another source? either way its great! (i realize this post is over 8 years old however music and the topics related to them are timeless, my attempt to subdue those interested in derailing my OP)
I was also going to say, that the movie 'the sweet hereafter' makes more sense to me after reading your comments. Its odd that a song, chosen for a movie can be so relevant to the overall concept. Makes me wonder if the movie was written based on the song, i doubt it. Just interesting is all
I was also going to say, that the movie 'the sweet hereafter' makes more sense to me after reading your comments. Its odd that a song, chosen for a movie can be so relevant to the overall concept. Makes me wonder if the movie was written based on the song, i doubt it. Just interesting is all
The reference to Hugh MacLennan leads to what the song is all about.
The third stanza is lifted almost directly from MacLennan's novel, The Watch that Ends the Night: "But that night as I drove back to Montreal I at least discovered this: that there's no simple explanation for anything important any of us do, and that the human tragedy, or the human irony, consists in the necessity of living with the consequences of actions performed under the pressure of compulsions so obscure we do not and cannot understand them."
The novel deals with a man who marries his childhood sweetheart (who is in poor health) after her husband is reported killed in the war. The husband's return precipitates a crisis.
The song more or less expresses what the novel is all about. Courage couldn't come at a worse time, but also, it didn't come when it was needed. It isn't about living with the consequences of doing something terrible so much as it's about living with the consequences of the ordinary decisions we make, and equally, regretting what we fail to do.
wow, wonderdog.. that is a very interesting and insightful explanation of this song. What is interesting is that this song was used in a movie 'the sweet hereafter' which Sarah Polley covers.
wow, wonderdog.. that is a very interesting and insightful explanation of this song. What is interesting is that this song was used in a movie 'the sweet hereafter' which Sarah Polley covers.
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrpaoC_-Wk8
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrpaoC_-Wk8
I really enjoyed your thoughts on this song and wonder if this is something you wrote yourself or did you learn it from another source? either way its great! (i realize this post is over 8 years old however music and the topics related to them are timeless, my attempt to subdue those interested in derailing...
I really enjoyed your thoughts on this song and wonder if this is something you wrote yourself or did you learn it from another source? either way its great! (i realize this post is over 8 years old however music and the topics related to them are timeless, my attempt to subdue those interested in derailing my OP)
I was also going to say, that the movie 'the sweet hereafter' makes more sense to me after reading your comments. Its odd that a song, chosen for a movie can be so relevant to the overall concept. Makes me wonder if the movie was written based on the song, i doubt it. Just interesting is all
I was also going to say, that the movie 'the sweet hereafter' makes more sense to me after reading your comments. Its odd that a song, chosen for a movie can be so relevant to the overall concept. Makes me wonder if the movie was written based on the song, i doubt it. Just interesting is all