Selling hundreds of tapes, CD's, and records over the last several years (with absolutely no distribution aside from direct mail order) these gentlemen are incredibly driven and hard-working. Despite their jobs as corporate accountants, music teachers, and network administrators, Dark Day Dawning has been, and always will be, the number one passion and priority in these men's lives.
If Only
Dark Day Dawning Lyrics
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Vacant as I've found that exceptions too run away
What good are words
When you don't know what is meant?
And what good are memories
Of times we never spent?
What good is ink
And what good is life
When you wish that you were dead?
Dead
Suburban swings now hang so still since that night
That night, if only
Five days without sunlight
Without sunshine
The walls tend to come alive
Taunt you and your graying flesh
Water will not take the stench away
Shut your mouth now, and say nothing
As your breath dooms the doves to fall limp from the sky
Shut your eyes now, quiet child
As your bar codes are being exposed
To see this breath, this steam
In the December air
To see this look of endless compassion
To lie to you
Cry to you
Die in your arms and I swear this time
The lyrics of Dark Day Dawning’s song If Only present a feeling of sorrow and hopelessness. The first verse talks about pretending to be happy, but deep down, the feeling is vacant and meaningless. The singer mentions the exception that runs away, which means that every time there’s a chance of something good happening, it slips away from their grasp. The second verse poses a series of questions about the usefulness of things such as words, memories, ink, and life itself, emphasizing the feeling of despair and hopelessness.
The bridge takes on a darker tone, as the words paint a picture of isolation and decay. The lines “Five days without sunlight, without sunshine, the walls tend to come alive” denote a feeling of being imprisoned or trapped, with nothing to look forward to. The last verse displays a sense of desperation, with the singer begging to be lied to or cry, to feel something apart from the emptiness that surrounds them.
Overall, the song suggests a theme of emptiness, despair, and hopelessness, with the singer wishing for something, anything to break the monotony of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
For now this shallow grin means nothing
Currently, the smile on my face is superficial and holds no deep emotion
Vacant as I've found that exceptions too run away
In my experience, even uncommon instances of sincerity have slipped away and left me feeling void
What good are words
What is the value in verbal communication
When you don't know what is meant?
If the intended message is not properly conveyed or understood
And what good are memories
What use do recollections have
Of times we never spent?
Regarding events that never came to fruition
What good is ink
What purpose does writing serve
When the written cannot be said?
If the words on the page cannot be expressed out loud
And what good is life
What benefit does existence have
When you wish that you were dead?
If death seems like the preferable option
Dead
In a state of non-existence
Suburban swings now hang so still since that night
The playground equipment has not been used since that night
That night, if only
A reference to a specific event on a night where one wishes they had acted differently
Five days without sunlight
Existing for five days without exposure to natural light
Without sunshine
Without warmth or positivity
The walls tend to come alive
Inanimate objects seem to take on a life of their own
Taunt you and your graying flesh
Mocking you and your aging body
Water will not take the stench away
Cleaning with water will not eradicate the odor
Shut your mouth now, and say nothing
To prevent causing harm, it is best to not speak
As your breath dooms the doves to fall limp from the sky
Your breath has a fatal effect on the birds in the sky
Shut your eyes now, quiet child
Close your eyes and remain still
As your bar codes are being exposed
As your unique identifiers are becoming apparent
To see this breath, this steam
To witness the visible vapor from your breath
In the December air
In the winter atmosphere
To see this look of endless compassion
To observe an expression of limitless concern
To lie to you, cry to you, die in your arms and I swear this time
To deceive you, express emotions to you, and die while held by you with a promise of sincerity
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Dan Brown, Joseph Sumner, Louis Sachar, Seton Lloyd Daunt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind