A Beginning Song Lyrics

Lyric discussion by untabubba 

Cover art for A Beginning Song lyrics by Decemberists, The

I love this song! It is by far my favorite....at the moment anyway. It's a great album! Something makes me feel this song is about dying. Knowing you are dying. The beginning of the after-life. I haven't put it all together yet, but it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when he goes into the "chant-like" passage at the end: It's it sunlight, it's it shadow It's the quiet, it's the word It's the beating heart It's the ocean it's the boys It's you, my sweet love (my sweet love) Oh, my love (oh my love) And the light, bright light And the light, bright light Bright light, bright light It's all around me It's all around me It's all around me

It's like he's recalling the things he loves about the world, ending with lover (oh my love) and then the bright light (of death?) "it's all around me. There is a ton of references of seeing a bright light when you die. Walking "into the light", etc.

Still working on the front part of the song and how it might tie in to dying.

@untabubba

I agree with your take of the meaning of this song. The transition of one life into another and assessing life experiences during your life review for setting things to right.