Describing themselves as “string-rock”, the band started up in 2009 and quickly took hold of New England’s musical imagination. Playing over 100 shows during their first year of touring, the band created a seamless, exhilarating sound at the intersection of rock, classical, and folk music. Their self-produced six-song EP 1 earned high praise for its craftsmanship and originality, and their brand new subscription album Pilot Machines was released in 2012.
When Fortune Comes
Darlingside Lyrics
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Every stone you gather and stack
From now on
Don't look at me for an ounce of pity
I don't wanna know when fortune comes
Cheated, borrowed, stolen or won
Same thing
The rocks all show when the river runs low
I don't wanna know how you bide your time
Consider me deaf, consider me dumb and blind
Consider me true to the man I knew
I don't wanna know how you make your way
Dropping stones to get back someday
Well go on
Every stride is another left behind
Oh
Oh
Oh
You're acting like everything's free
There's always a cost underneath
Where you gonna go when the road runs out?
Falling down, half-dead, waking in a flowerbed
Where you gonna turn when your bridges all burn?
Ooh
Acting like everything's free
There's always a cost underneath
I don't wanna know where you lost the track
Going, gone, and never came back
It's the same thing
What did you do with the person I knew?
What did you do with the person I knew?
Darlingside's song "When Fortune Comes" is an introspective piece that delves into the concept of accountability, responsibility and the cost that comes with every decision we make. The opening lines "I don't wanna know about the weight on your back, every stone you gather and stack, from now on, don't look at me for an ounce of pity" establish a tone of detachment and emotional distance. The singer establishes that they are no longer interested in carrying the emotional burden of someone else's shortcomings and shortcomings in life. The overall vibe of the song seems to be a break-up conversation where the singer is taking a stand and refusing to enable someone's self-destructive tendencies.
The repeated line "Acting like everything's free, there's always a cost underneath" suggests that the cost of ignoring the consequences of one's actions will eventually catch up with them. The imagery of "dropping stones to get back someday" recalls the saying "what goes around comes around" and implies that our actions will catch up with us eventually. Interestingly, the line "There's always a cost underneath" seems to flip the common phrase "there's always a silver lining" on its head. It suggests that while there may be good things that come from our actions, there is always a cost that follows.
The song ends with a poignant question, "What did you do with the person I knew?" suggesting that the singer is mourning the loss of someone they used to know, someone who they feel has changed, and is now unrecognizable to them. The lyrics are thought-provoking and ask the listener to examine their own life and the cost of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna know about the weight on your back
I don't want to hear about your problems anymore
Every stone you gather and stack
Every issue you have accumulated for yourself
From now on
Beginning today
Don't look at me for an ounce of pity
Don't expect me to feel sorry for you
I don't wanna know when fortune comes
I don't care about your success anymore
Cheated, borrowed, stolen or won
Regardless if you achieved it honestly or not
Same thing
It's all equal in the end
The rocks all show when the river runs low
Your true colors will show when you're in hardship
Acting like everything's free
Acting like you don't have to pay for your actions
I don't wanna know how you bide your time
I don't care how you're spending your time
Consider me deaf, consider me dumb and blind
Think of me as someone who can't hear, speak, or see
Consider me true to the man I knew
Believe that I still remember the person you used to be
I don't wanna know how you make your way
I don't care how you're achieving your goals
Dropping stones to get back someday
Harming others now with the intention of making amends later
Well go on
Go ahead and continue with your actions
Every stride is another left behind
Every step you take leaves something or someone else behind
Oh
Expressing disinterest and detachment
Oh
Expressing disinterest and detachment
Oh
Expressing disinterest and detachment
You're acting like everything's free
You're acting like you can do what you want without consequence
There's always a cost underneath
Your actions will always result in consequences
Where you gonna go when the road runs out?
Where will you go when you have nowhere else to turn?
Falling down, half-dead, waking in a flowerbed
Suffering the aftermath of your actions
Where you gonna turn when your bridges all burn?
Where will you go when you've burned all your bridges?
Ooh
Expressing empathy and concern
Acting like everything's free
Acting like you don't have to pay for your actions
There's always a cost underneath
Your actions will always result in consequences
I don't wanna know where you lost the track
I don't want to hear about when you lost your way
Going, gone, and never came back
Left and never returned
It's the same thing
It's all equal in the end
What did you do with the person I knew?
Who are you now compared to the person I once knew?
What did you do with the person I knew?
Who are you now compared to the person I once knew?
Contributed by Joshua J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.