Story Behind The Song

"He stretched out to her his despairing arms, eager to rescue her, or feel her form, but could hold nothing save the yielding air. Dying the second time, she could not say a word of censure of her husband`s fault; what had she to complain of -- his great love?" ~Taken from Metamorphosis by Ovid Trans. By Brookes More This song is based on the tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, the greatest musician of the ancient world, marries his love, Eurydice who tragically dies on their wedding day. Orpheus, bereft and grief-stricken, vows to get her back and woes his way into the underworld with his song. Once there he sings a song so plaintive and painful that the gods of the underworld take pity on him and allow him to take his beloved Eurydice back on one condition: that he walk on faith alone, never looking back to see if she is behind him until they are both out of the underworld. Orpheus readily agrees and walks through the land of shadow and death hoping she is behind. When he comes out into the mortal realm, he feel her breath upon his neck and is sure she is out. He turns to look and she hasn't quite breached the boundary, and dies a second time, lost to him forever.

Song Description

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice can bring tears to my eyes, every single time. The futility of his quest to retrieve his dead wife and the overwhelming love that just would not let him accept that she must die has always touched me. Beyond, I think the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is a poignant reminder of the frailty of our humanness and what is beautiful within that. My favorite line from the story is this `While he sang all his heart said to the sound of his sweet lyre, the bloodless ghosts themselves were weeping...`. That love, that grieve, could evoke such empathy is what calls to me when I read this myth.

Lyrics

I died a thousand deaths
Tears flood the banks of my eyes
One moment
And everything changes forever

Chasms of darkness
Where shadows and fear grip my soul
A vast realm of silence
So lost, so cold inside

Love has led to this place
In love I will die
Or live once again

Don't look back
She's one breath away
I won't let go
Can't accept the fate that's told

I scream my pain
To the Gods, Queens and Weavers
Who carelessly give, take and cut
How can they know pain?

Love has led to this place
In love I will die
Or live once again

Don't look back now
She's one breath away
Where is my strength?
Where's the faith to carry on?

Warm breath upon my neck
Sweetly, her lips sing my name
A heartbeat, at last love
I can't resist looking

Love I thought I would die
But live on without
I'm broken inside