In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.
Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.
Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
You Are The Dark
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Against my will
My medicine
Won't let me feel
Anything at all
The doctor gave me sleeping pills
And I took one
Sleeping like a stone
And babe
You were the light
But now
You are the dark
But dream about the autumn leaves
And you were one
Falling in the sun
Where are you now?
A tv burns
A hollow room
I cleaned it up
And now I don't know what to do
I'm just lying down
And babe
You were the light
And now
You are the dark
I guess I live
Up in my head
I call you up
But my phone is dead
And now it's too much
The doctor said I need a cure
But what I got
He's not really sure
And I won't say much
And babe
You were the light
And now
You are the dark
And babe
You were the light
And now
You are the dark
The lyrics for Joseph Arthur’s “You Are The Dark” portrays the sense of despair and hopelessness of a person who is struggling with depression. The song is about feeling alone and disconnected from the world and unable to feel any emotion. The opening line, “I’m up all night against my will,” suggests that the person is unable to sleep naturally and has to rely on medication to force it. However, the medication they’ve taken has made them numb, “My medicine won’t let me feel anything at all.”
The chorus repeats the line “You were the light, and now, you are the dark,” which implies that the person’s former source of hope and light has now become the cause of the darkness they feel. The second verse describes the emptiness and loneliness that the person is feeling. They’re longing for a connection with someone, but they can’t seem to find it. They reminisce about a person they cared about, but that person is no longer there, “Dream about the autumn leaves, and you were one, falling in the sun, where are you now?”
The song is a haunting, introspective lament of someone who is struggling with their own inner demons. It addresses the feelings of loneliness and disconnection that many people with depression experience, and the way they can become trapped in their own minds. Ultimately, the song leaves the listener with the sense that this person may not ever find the light again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm up all night
I am awake all night long
Against my will
I do not want to be awake all night, but I have no choice
My medicine
The drugs I have been prescribed
Won't let me feel
The drugs are preventing me from experiencing emotions
Anything at all
I am emotionally numb due to the medication
The doctor gave me sleeping pills
My doctor prescribed sleeping pills to help me sleep
And I took one
I followed my doctor's orders and consumed one pill
Then I feel all alone
After taking the pill, I feel isolated and lonely
Sleeping like a stone
The sleeping pill has knocked me out cold
And babe
Addressing a loved one
You were the light
You used to bring happiness and light into my life
But now
But currently
You are the dark
You are now the cause of my sadness and despair
But dream about the autumn leaves
I reminisce about my past
And you were one
And you were a part of that past
Falling in the sun
A beautiful memory of falling leaves in the sunshine
Where are you now?
Wondering where the person I remember from the past has gone
A tv burns
The TV has been left on, blazing light into an empty room
A hollow room
An empty, lonely living space
I cleaned it up
I tidied the living space
And now I don't know what to do
Despite the tidying, I am still lost and alone
I'm just lying down
I am lying down feeling helpless and defeated
I guess I live
I suppose I exist
Up in my head
I am consumed by my own thoughts
I call you up
I try to reach out to you for support
But my phone is dead
My phone is out of battery or disconnected, I cannot reach anyone for help
And now it's too much
I am reaching a breaking point and cannot handle it anymore
The doctor said I need a cure
My doctor told me I need to be treated for my condition
But what I got
The medication I was prescribed
He's not really sure
My doctor is not confident that the medication will help me
And I won't say much
I don't feel like talking or sharing more about my situation
And babe
Addressing a loved one
You were the light
You were once the source of my happiness
And now
But now
You are the dark
You have become the source of my sadness and despair
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind