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Everybody Dies |
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| This song was
commissioned by ChiZine Publications for the launch of Caitlin Sweet's
young-adult novel The
Door in the Mountain. The novel is a retelling
of the ancient Greek story of the Minotaur, with the two point-of-view
characters being Ariadne and a slave girl named Chara. The
latter is friends with Asterion, the boy who becomes the Minotaur.
When the two are separated, she writes him a series of
letters, all the while knowing that he will never read them.
This song is written from Chara's perspective and can be
regarded as constituting one of the letters. It's also worth noting that I have been fascinated with Greek mythology since my childhood. I have been interested for a while now in the fact that very few of the stories end happily. Basically, they involve everyone--including and especially the gods--being massive jerks. This idea may just creep into the song from time to time. |
| Recording |
| Lyrics |
| Everybody
Dies |
| You and I are together, As different as it’s possible to be. The gods have marked you as their own, But they haven’t chosen me. I can sense that things are shifting. You are hoping to defy the odds. I fear that may be the same As defying the gods. I am living in the shadows. I am glad that I am out of sight and mind. You are trapped in a flash of flame. I am hard to find. I remember the old stories. I think you’re in one, and I fear for you. What the stories teach us is The same all through: Everybody dies. You won’t say it, but I See it in your eyes. It’s okay; it Isn’t even a surprise; It’s just the way it Has to be because the Gods all say so. Everybody knows Life is unfair, that It defeats you, and it shows. Try not to care that That’s the way it always goes. No matter where that Puts you, you can only say: Everybody dies Anyway. It is funny how in stories The gods’ cruelty just stands as understood. If they were to destroy us all, We’d still call them “good.” And nothing turns out nicely, No wedding feast without poison in. I guess we can blame the Fates, But that’s just to begin. Everybody dies. You won’t say it, but I See it in your eyes. It’s okay; it Isn’t even a surprise; It’s just the way it Has to be because the Gods all say so. Everybody knows Life is unfair, that It defeats you, and it shows. Try not to care that That’s the way it always goes. No matter where that Puts you, you can only say: Everybody dies Anyway. And Ariadne plots and schemes, Not really understanding It’s not as vital as it seems To be the chosen one. She should be glad she doesn’t have Attention from above; The gods have an addiction To killing what they love. You’ve been cast into darkness, And I am left alone without a guide. Your gift is such a stupid joke That I wish you’d died. We are already beaten, You at their mercy and me just ignored. To them, we are pieces on A great game board. If I creep out of the shadows, Maybe they won’t see me coming. After all, I am just an unmarked slave, Weak and small. Though I doubt that I can save you, It would be wonderful if I could turn The tables on the mighty gods So they would learn That everybody dies. They won’t say it, but I’ll See it in their eyes. And yes, okay, it May just come as a surprise; That is the way it Has to be because the Gods deserve it. They should have to know Life is unfair, that It is really just a show, And they should care that That’s the way they make it go. No matter where that Puts them, they should have to say: Everybody dies Someday. Everybody dies Anyway. Back to Music page |