Card received Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Religious Studies from Western Kentucky University. His studies in physics and astronomy allowed him to support himself while a student by working for six years at a planetarium. As of 2005, he is working on a Ph.D. in Classical Literature.
The Edge
Michael Card Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How dark this world can seem
When life becomes more nightmare than a dream.
So to all of you who have survived
A visit to the edge,
I trust that you will understand this pledge.
Chorus:
The darkness for the light.
I swear by all that's holy
I will not give up the fight.
I'll drink down death like water
Before I ever come again
To that dark place where I might make
The choice for life to end.
I've found that as I travelled
Through the inscape of my land
That mountaintops make valleys in between.
And when that nameless sadness
Like a cloud comes over me
I look back on all the brightness I have seen.
CHORUS
Bridge:
I realize that though my world
Might seem so torn apart,
Most often it is joy that breaks the heart.
And that I am the richest man
Though I must beg for bread,
For the very One who might condemn
Has called me friend instead.
CHORUS
I will always leave the darkness for the light.
I will not give up the fight.
In Michael Card’s “The Edge,” he presents the idea of a dark world that many of us will never fully understand. Life can seem like a nightmare instead of a dream, and for those who have visited the edge, the ones who have seen the darkness that exists in the world, they know how difficult it can be. Card expresses his understanding of this and promises to leave the darkness for the light. He swears to fight against the waves of darkness that exist in the world and mentions drinking down death like water before ever returning to that dark place where the choice for life to end may arise.
Throughout the song, Card uses powerful metaphors to describe the journey through life, touching on his own experiences. The concept of mountaintops making valleys in between and how a nameless sadness can overcome us like a cloud reflects on the highs and lows of life. In the bridge, Card acknowledges the difficulties of life but recognizes that we must look at the joy in our lives and appreciate it. He sees himself as the richest man, even if he must beg for bread. Card recognizes that the very One who might condemn him has called him a friend instead. Overall, “The Edge” instills hope in the listener and encourages them to fight against the darkness in our world.
Line by Line Meaning
Most of us will never know
The depths of despair that some people experience are unfathomable to those who have not gone through such trials.
How dark this world can seem
The world can be a very bleak and gloomy place in the eyes of those who have been through tough times.
When life becomes more nightmare than a dream.
When someone's life is filled with pain and hardship, it can feel like a waking nightmare rather than a happy dream.
So to all of you who have survived
This song is directed towards those who have gone through difficult circumstances and have come out the other side.
A visit to the edge,
This refers to those who have been on the brink of death or have suffered deeply from mental health issues.
I trust that you will understand this pledge.
The singer is making a commitment to persevere through life's struggles, and he hopes that others who have experienced similar hardships will do the same.
I promise I will always leave
The singer is vowing to choose hope and positivity over despair and darkness.
The darkness for the light.
He will actively seek out bright and happy moments, and try not to dwell on the negativity in life.
I swear by all that's holy
This is a solemn and serious promise that he is making, based on his most deeply held values and beliefs.
I will not give up the fight.
He will remain committed to facing life's difficulties with courage and perseverance.
I'll drink down death like water
The singer is saying that he would rather die than return to a place of extreme despair and darkness.
Before I ever come again
He is determined to avoid reaching a point of utter hopelessness ever again.
To that dark place where I might make
The singer is referencing the possibility of considering suicide or self-harm when feeling deeply depressed or in mental anguish.
The choice for life to end.
He is determined to choose life and refuse to let despair take over.
I've found that as I travelled
As he went through life, he came to a realization.
Through the inscape of my land
This refers to exploring his internal landscape, his own emotions and inner world.
That mountaintops make valleys in between.
He has learned that the high points in life are often followed by low points and sadness.
And when that nameless sadness
The singer is describing a deep and profound feeling of grief or despair that is difficult to pinpoint or name.
Like a cloud comes over me
This sadness can descend on him like a dark cloud or an overwhelming feeling.
I look back on all the brightness I have seen.
In moments of darkness, he tries to remind himself of all the good and positive experiences he has had in life.
I realize that though my world
He has come to a realization about his life.
Might seem so torn apart,
His life may appear to be in disarray or falling apart, but this does not diminish the joy he has experienced in the past.
Most often it is joy that breaks the heart.
It is often the happy and joyful moments in life that make the hardships even more painful, because they serve as a reminder of what has been lost.
And that I am the richest man
Despite his struggles, he feels incredibly blessed.
Though I must beg for bread,
Even though he may be struggling financially or materially, he still feels privileged in other ways.
For the very One who might condemn
He seems to be referring to God here - someone who could judge and punish him for his perceived faults and failures.
Has called me friend instead.
Despite any shortcomings he may have, God has welcomed him with open arms and embraced him as a friend.
I will always leave the darkness for the light.
This line is repeated, emphasizing the singer's commitment to choose hope and positivity over despair.
I will not give up the fight.
This line is also repeated, driving home the message that he will continue to persevere through the hard times no matter what.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.