Dark Days
Punch Brothers Lyrics
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Mother, listen to my heart
Just as one beat ends, another starts
You can hear no matter where you are
Sister, hide our love away
From the evil we both know
It can see you through these dark days
Though they seem to darken as I go
Our love will see us through these dark, dark days sister
'Til it lights the way back home
Sister, hide our love away
It can turn the whole world upside down
Shake it 'til the sky falls to the ground
We don't have to reap the fear they sow
Friends, as long as we hide our love away
In the good they'll never know
It can see us through these dark days
Though they seem to darken as we go
Our love will see us through these dark, dark days sister
'Til it lights the way back home
Sister, hide our love away
Mother, listen to my heart
Just as one beats ends, another starts
You can hear no matter where you are
The lyrics of Punch Brothers’ “Dark Days” appear to describe a couple’s love living under the shadow of danger and oppression. The singer addresses his mother initially, asking her to listen to his heart, to hear it beating. The following lines “Just as one beat ends, another starts/You can hear no matter where you are” speak of a continuous, ever-beating heart that cannot be silenced. The singer then addresses his sister, asking her to “hide their love away from the evil they both know”. This could be a reference to societal norms that reject non-heterosexual relationships, forcing these types of relationships to be hidden away.
The lines “Our love will see us through these dark, dark days, sister/Til it lights the way back home…” imply that the love between the two people can help them overcome the harsh realities of their situation. This love is powerful enough to “Turn the whole world upside down/Shake it ‘til the sky falls to the ground”. The singer urges his sister to keep their love “hidden away” because by doing so, they can protect themselves in a world where they are not accepted. Love becomes a refuge and a sanctuary. Overall, “Dark Days” is a poignant commentary on the power of love in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, listen to my heart
Asking for mother's attention to contemplate upon my emotions
Mother, listen to my heart
Reiterating the request to mother to understand my emotional state
Just as one beat ends, another starts
Highlighting the cyclic nature of emotions and their constant presence
You can hear no matter where you are
Assuring the mother that she could perceive the emotions from any corner of the world
Sister, hide our love away
Requesting sister to keep their love concealed from the society
From the evil we both know
Giving a reason to keep their love hidden
It can see you through these dark days
Expressing the faith in their love to be a beacon of hope in gloomy times
Though they seem to darken as I go
Emphasizing that the circumstances may deteriorate over time, but love endures
Our love will see us through these dark, dark days sister
Asserting that their love is strong enough to withstand the difficult days
'Til it lights the way back home
Illustrating the profound effect their love could have and help them resolve their problems
It can turn the whole world upside down
Portraying love's power to alter the reality and rewrite stories
Shake it 'til the sky falls to the ground
Amplifying the idea of love's ability to cause a revolution
We don't have to reap the fear they sow
Reiterating the importance of concealing their love to evade societal judgment
Friends, as long as we hide our love away
Addressing friends and acquaintances to keep their love discreet
In the good they'll never know
Highlighting that the only way to keep their love safe is to keep it away from prejudiced minds
Mother, listen to my heart
Closing the song with a plea to mother, as if indicating that their love is precious yet fragile and could only be secured with maternal love and blessings
Just as one beats ends, another starts
Reiterating the continuity of emotions and their constant nature
You can hear no matter where you are
Assuring that mother's love transcends geographical boundaries and can support from any distance
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chris Thile, Christopher Curtin Eldridge, Gabriel John Witcher, Noam David Pikelny, Paul Frederick Kowert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind