I Called You Back – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
I’ve always though that there were stages to love: the constant state of feeling inevitably modified by the passing of time and the position of finality said passing leaves one in. This song by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy illustrates that perfectly, and even more perfect is the frame in which it’s truthfulness operates: the calling of return to a love which is as circumstantial as it is permanent.
I’ll leave the rest for your ear, but I challenge you to disagree with this theory and not be swayed by the song’s wisdom and it’s awareness of such a damning situation.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – I Called You Back (The Letting Go, 2006)
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and a suitable follow-up:
Sparklehorse – More Yellow Birds (It’s A Wonderful Life, 2001)
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Hope.
I agree it is a damning situation. But it seems like more of a ‘damned if you do damned if you don’t’ thing to me. He feels like if he didn’t call back this old love, there would be nothing else out there for him, because he’s getting older. She’s his last chance. But is that really happiness? settling for someone? And he may hear her voice everywhere, and when they kiss it feels like they’re in love again. But are they really? Or do the circumstances happen to be right at that moment, and that’s the only reason the love seems real? Sorry if I seem cynical, but I hear a song about settling. It’s a beautiful song, but it makes me sad, not hopeful. Now I challenge you to change my mind and make it hopeful.