re: Depressing Songs

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The Cure - Disintegration

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In 2015, Phil Elverum's wife, the Canadian artist Geneviève Castrée, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four months after the birth of their first child. Castrée died at their home on 9 July 2016. Taking inspiration from the Gary Snyder poem "Go Now", Elverum realised that he did not have to find any meaning in Castrée's death but could write songs that described the experience. He also found inspiration in the work of Julie Doiron, Sun Kil Moon and Karl Ove Knausgård. Elverum wrote the songs over a six-week period starting in September 2016. Utilising some notes that he had written during Castrée's illness and treatment, Elverum wrote the lyrics down longhand on her paper and recorded the songs in the room where she died using an acoustic guitar, one microphone and a laptop computer as well as some of Castrée's own instruments. Since he had become the primary carer for his daughter, Elverum recorded the songs at night while his daughter was asleep or during times when she was visiting friends. He stated that the songs "poured out quickly in the fall, watching the days grey over and watching the neighbors across the alley tear down and rebuild their house" and that he made the record and released it "just to multiply my voice saying that I love her. I want it known."

The lyrics are delivered in a speak singing style and deal with Castrée's illness and death and Elverum's ensuing grief. The words take the form of a diary and Elverum references specific dates of events in certain songs. Each song refers to Castrée, sometimes directly by name, with the exception of the final song "Crow" which is addressed to their daughter.

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Opening track "Real Death" begins with the words "death is real" and this theme continues throughout the record. The song also refers to Elverum opening mail packages addressed to Castrée that were delivered after her death. Elverum discusses scattering Castrée's ashes on "Seaweed". "Ravens" describes Elverum giving away Castrée's clothes. The lyrics to "My Chasm" describe Elverum's difficulty in talking about his loss in public. Many of the lyrics feature references to nature with one reviewer noting that "tragedy hasn't stopped [Elverum] from noticing the world; if anything, it seems to have pried his eyes open for good." Musically, the songs feature sparse instrumentation with acoustic guitar and simple percussion which Elverum referred to as "barely music". Elverum wanted to release the album quickly, so he used minimal production.

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When the postman delivered a letter
It filled her dear heart full of joy
But she didn't know till she read the inside
It was the last one from her darling boy
Dear Mom, was the way that it started
I miss you so much it went on
Mom, I didn't know, that I loved you so
But I'll prove it when this war is won
I'm writing this down in a trench, Mom
Don't scold if it isn't so neat
You know as you did, when I was a kid
And I'd come home with mud on my feet
The captain just gave us our orders
And Mom, we will carry them through
I'll finish this letter the first chance I get
But now I'll just say I love you
Then the mother's old hands began to tremble
And she fought against tears in her eyes
But they came unashamed for there was no name
And she knew that her darling had died
That night as she knelt by her bedside
She prayed Lord above hear my plea
And protect all the sons that are fighting tonight
And dear God keep America free

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Soldier's Last Letter - Ernest Tubb

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