Monday, October 9, 2017

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the End o' the World

Lenka, "The End of the World" from Two (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: I used to think songs like "The End of the World" were deeply romantic, & perhaps they really are, which would explain why I've become not just cynical but actively hostile to the idea of romantic love. Look at the words. How narrow,s elfish a perspective does one have to have to not care that the world is ending as long as one can be with the object of one's affection, the apple of one's eye? That is a deeply stunted, twisted view of love—mixed with nihilism—that the lives of strangers are inconsequential as long as one can be with one's lover. I'm sure there are other perspectives to consider, perhaps even takes that might recast "The End of the World" in a positive light, but for the nonce I think the selfish love/nihilism perspective, disquieting as it is, is worth your contemplation.
"At the end of the world,
I will be there with you,
And we'll throw a party to celebrate
The things we used to do,
Like living life, breathing air,
Running your fingers through my hair,
Oh, this isn't fair!

"At the end of the world,
I will hold you so close,
So we won't notice the destruction
Of all we used to know.
We will close our eyes as the waters rise
We'll float away and you will say,
'Oh, isn't this nice?'

"At the end of the world,
We'll be together, be together,
If I can spend it with you
Then the end of the world don't matter…"

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