Nobody quite does upbeat or downbeat depressing like the prolific Louisville singer-songwriter and actor Will Oldham, who has also gone under the Palace or Palace Brothers moniker, so let's do both with two versions of this song. It was originally released as a song on the acclaimed album of the same name, and also covered by Johnny Cash on his American III: Solitary Man: covers album.
The lyrics centre on whether a friend can perceive depression in the other person, and also discusses how much it may be ignored or hidden. The original is slow, moving, simmering and painful, but nevertheless has very powerful chord changes and a stark, vulnerable vocal performance that captures these mental struggles, constantly trying to break out of them as love occasionally surfaces.
A later version, released on the 2012 EP Now Here's My Plan, gives it a darkly humorous and deathly twist with a video shot on the streets of Glasgow.
[Intro]
Well you're my friend
(That's what you told me)
And can you see
(What's inside of me)
[Verse 1]
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice
The kind of thoughts I got
[Verse 2]
Well you know I have a love
A love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive
To live, I won't let go
[Pre-Chorus]
Could you see its opposition
Comes rising up sometimes
That its dreadful anteposition
Comes blacking in my mind
[Chorus]
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
[Pre-Chorus]
Did you know how much I love you
Here's a hope that some how you
Can save me from this darkness
[Verse 3]
Well I hope that someday, buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see.
[Chorus]
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
[Post-Chorus]
Did you know how much I love you
Here's a hope that some how you
Can save me from this darkness.
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