"I Will Follow You Into The Dark" has been one of my favorite songs for years. The album that is first appeared on, Plans, was released in August 2005. I bought it for my dad the following Christmas, and my family still listens to it (I guess this means that I've been listening to this song since grade 8, wow). It still kind of echos the "slightly-emo-but-nothing-too-hardcore" music phase of '04-'06(ish) that I went through, but I honestly love this song. I have 4 versions of it on my iTunes, and I've long stood by the fact that it could make almost any "Top 5 Songs for _____" list I could make. I've blogged about it before, and I'll blog about it again. But just to get it all out of my system, I'll try to end it here, with 5 Situations to Play "I'll Follow You Into The Dark."
#1. Weddings
Okay, so this isn't exactly a "first dance" type of song. However, when the night is coming to an end, and people are exhausted from dancing so hard, tired from dancing for so long, and almost ready to go home, I think this would be a nice song to put on. As the night winds down, people can grab the person they love and dance slowly for a few minutes, to this calming song about forever.
#2. Funerals
On the opposite end of the spectrum, this song is also funeral appropriate. To be fair, I will put it out there that I've never actually been to a funeral. However, I assume/hear that, at some point, when people have said what's to be said, a song is played to convey what people couldn't. At a wedding, this song is about the love. At a funeral, it's about the concept of forever. Does that make sense? Even if it doesn't, this song makes the concept of forever seem a lot more comforting.
#3. Campfires
My family gets together for sing-a-longs a lot. Each time, if some one suggests this song before the end of the night, they are greeted with several glares and scoldings that "no, that song is for the end the night." Almost without fail, this is our closing song. My dad plays it on guitar and sings, and this is our sign that the night is coming to an end. When we sing this at campfires, this is the cue for people to start extinguishing the fire (so it gets dark. Get it?). Despite the fact that, after all these years, we still stumble of the line "In the blackest of rooms" (future reference for family: apparently it's rooms. Not blues. Take note), this is one of my favorite campfire songs. It's become habit, and it has a comforting sound when sung by my (admittedly vastly more talented than me) family.
#4. Post-Breakup
That phase after a break up. You know, when all you want to do is blast sad songs and feel bad about yourself and cry and eat tubs of ice cream and all the chocolate, ever? Yeah, that phase. Crank this baby up and feel the sad, sad wave of despair and pity wash over you.
(*I don't recommend this or anything. I'm just saying, it's an option.)
#5. Awkward Power Outages
The lights go off. People are stumbling around. Start singing the chorus softly, and you'll be surprised how quickly people suddenly find their flashlights. Or matches. Or how flammable that house plant really is.
(*Works best with strangers)
You see what I'm saying? This song is versatile, and I love it to bits. I've also listened to it 7 times while writing this post.
*BONUS USE: One time, in grade 10 planning, we had this assignment (during the "healthy relationships" unit) where we had to pick a song that depicted some sort of relationship, play if for the class, and talk about it for a minute or so. I picked this song. My planning teacher cried. It was awkward.
Love of mine some day 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 NOs 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
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs 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
It's nothing to cry about
'cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
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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