I'll Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie – Monday Musings

I'll Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie – Monday Musings

I’m a mooch. There, I said it! Happy now? To be honest, it feels great to get that off my chest. You see, although I pretend to be [Keyword: “pretend”], I’m not really on top of the latest/greatest music out there. For that I depend on my friends. I’ll introduce you to many of those friends over the course of this blog, but here’s my current go-to guy…Josh Preston.

Josh is the guy you wish could be when you grow up. He’s a phenomenal music business man (I won’t go into who he’s worked for, trust me though, he’s the man!), he’s an incredible guitar player, producer, songwriter, performer, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. (Check him out HERE).

Those are great qualities mind you (he showed up, out of the blue, uncoerced, to help me unload our moving truck…how great is that) , but he has an additional trait that puts him beyond us mere mortals. Josh, at anytime of the day, is listening to cooler music than the rest of us. How does he do it? It’s best not to ask.

I worked for Josh a few years ago, and no matter when I walked by his office, he always had something on that was the bomb. Something that would always eventually become huge. ALWAYS. He’d call me in….check this out…and BAM, there I was, floored again.

Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap

Valerie - Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse’s producer)

Lay It Down - Al Green

 I eventually left the company, but Josh and I frequently have “lunch” [Translation:  a secret plot on my part to commandeer a mix CD of whatever he’s listening to…which he always graciously provides. I think he’s on to me.]  

One of those “aha” moments was when he introduced me to Death Cab for Cutie. I was complaining about the lack of cool lyrics in current music when he smiled, patted my head [okay, he didn’t pat my head, but he should have…]and put this number on…

I'll Follow You into the Dark

(verse)

Love of mine, someday 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

(chorus)

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

(verse)
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

(chorus)
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

(verse)
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

(chorus)
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

I’ve been wanting to tackle the song since then, but never got around to it. It was nominated for Grammy, but lost to Black Eyed Peas “My Hump” (which I actually like…but c’mon, did the emo’s really need to lose out to Fergie’s lovely lady lump?)

So check out Josh’s Website, and check out the blog tomorrow as I get down and dirty with Then I’ll Follow You into the Dark.

Cheers,

~Shane

PS. I was originally going to do my favorite Shawn Colvin cover tune "Someday", but couldn't find it on YouTube. I'll get to it later on down the road. 

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iTune links to songs mentioned in this article: 

I Will Follow You into the Dark

My Humps

Hide and Seek

Valarie

Lay it Down