Walk Away, Walk Away

Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son, fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
'cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark

When I first heard the song, I was struck by what a beautiful picture it paints of love, commitment and our human frailty. It so perfectly summed up how I felt at my wedding, the invisible assurance that this was the person you would grow old with; the person who would be your constant. For some it is odd that the essence of love is delivered in a song about death, confused by the concept that being there in the end validates the journey more than the beginner ever could.

I heard it tonight and I was struck again, but not in the same way. The beauty had been replaced by a sense of loss, and the realization that I had gotten it wrong. I haven’t found “the one”, and there was no one that I would be no one to follow anyone anywhere.

Not yet anyhow.