His lyrics reverberate, they’re visceral and raw. They bring the past back to life in a way I never expected. How does he do that? I have Francesca, All things End, and Unknown/Nth from Unreal Unearth in 2023 on repeat. The song “Francesca” is reflecting 2010. It’s the echoes of a story long past from another’s life that is somehow distilled into this song. I am left reeling. Do you remember…? All too well.

“Darling, I would go through it again.”

That lyric alone moves me from indifference to another time, another place. I remember feelings long past. What is this? It’s beautiful. It’s marvelous. It’s tragic.

“And all things end…”

The amazing part of music is how it transports me back. Has it been 14 years since 2009? Soon 15 years will have passed. The year 2009 was an important year. The impact of the events of that year would impact the next 5 years to 2014. And let me tell you 2014. That year… Loss, hurt, pain and yet I look back with feelings of nostalgia, happiness and yearning.

“Do you know I could break beneath the weight of the goodness, love, I still carry for you?”

It’s going to be 10 years since 2014. So much has happened. I miss the woman that I was. She was so bold, daring, and fearless. I see the traces of her in me today. She changed. She learned. She would still do everything single thing she did from 2009 to 2014. No regrets. Time has eased the pain of the scars I bear today. I appreciate her. I miss her. So hopeful and a little naive.