So for the past few months I’ve been taken by the lyrics of a song called “Alone with the Sea”, by the band Hurt.  The lyrics speak to the emotions of a man left behind by lost love.

Because I’ve strangely become immune
To the thought of seeing you
And the smell of cheap perfume
Is just a ring around the moon

There’s no more beauty in this world…

Somehow those words both gripped exactly how I felt, and set it free at the same time through the beautiful music those words where sung over.

…But at some point something changed—I found beauty where I least expected it and now those words serve as nothing greater than a marker to a chapter of my life that’s quickly closing.  It all happened before I realized what was taking place, but somehow I find myself surrounded by peace, happiness, and tranquillity where before there wasn’t.

I’m thankful, but now as I lay that outdated anthem to rest I’m searching for a new verse to find refuge in during this new chapter that’s opening ahead of me.  I’m not sure yet, but I think it follows the tune of “Assurance” by the same band.

So you need assurance that
Everything’s gonna be fine
’cause you’re just a woman who’s
Everything good in my life
Though we’d been over, weeping over,
Our last goodbyes.
I have learned to live with these fatal gifts,
And still you’re mine…

Sometimes a song can capture our emotions better than we can express them ourselves, but now, even though this is the closest to how I feel at the moment, I can’t help but feel that it cheapens my beautiful situation and I’m not entirely sure that it does it justice.

For now, instead of trying to find the right song to match how I feel I think I’ll focus on finding out where this new chapter leads me, and what more beauty there is to be found in it.

–Tom

Alone with the Sea

Assurance