This is probably my favorite song from the second record in the Family Tree trilogy. I often think about my granddad when Ben sings 'the doctor said it could go either way' - he was a doctor in WW1 so it was probably a situation he might have had to deal with regularly.
It's the most beautiful song I've heard capturing the meaninglessness of war from the individual's point of view and what he's actually thinking of in the hospital. He doesn't want to be a hero - he can't be. He doesn't want to change the world - he can't be. He's just realized that no one is actually 'keeping score' and that human life is of no value here. As part of the war machinery he longs for little things and memories that made him who he is - playing with the dogs, helping his father chop wood... It's all so trivial and beautiful at the same time.
And then in classic Ben Cooper style the protagonist makes peace with whatever's coming and embraces death even though he might live - I love how the song leaves the ending open.
This is probably my favorite song from the second record in the Family Tree trilogy. I often think about my granddad when Ben sings 'the doctor said it could go either way' - he was a doctor in WW1 so it was probably a situation he might have had to deal with regularly.
It's the most beautiful song I've heard capturing the meaninglessness of war from the individual's point of view and what he's actually thinking of in the hospital. He doesn't want to be a hero - he can't be. He doesn't want to change the world - he can't be. He's just realized that no one is actually 'keeping score' and that human life is of no value here. As part of the war machinery he longs for little things and memories that made him who he is - playing with the dogs, helping his father chop wood... It's all so trivial and beautiful at the same time.
And then in classic Ben Cooper style the protagonist makes peace with whatever's coming and embraces death even though he might live - I love how the song leaves the ending open.