Bonnie "Prince" Billy - THE DARKNESS

Without getting into a lot of bull shit, let's just say that 2007 - 08 were a rough couple of years, too much self inflicted pain (sometimes a really good kind of pain) to put into words without making it a book. Anyway, the dirty brown haze finally lifted with the life saving arrival of my daughter (and of course my wife, brother, and friends) and also a good mix of great records.

BPB's I See A Darkness has become, well crucial to say the least, particularly the said album title track. You can also find this track on Johnny Cash's Solitary Man and it must be said that he does an amazing job of recreating the dark and passionately ambiguous lyrics. The song has brought me smiles, tears, screams, and it even caused me to get honked at repeatedly as I sat, unable to press the gas at a stop light the first time it spun in my car.

It's definitely a singular album with great lyrics and an unrivaled voice that shows its true power when you sit down and give it the attention it deserves. The album is slow, dark, and deeply affecting and at its core it's as real and full of life as any album I've ever listened to. It truly has the ability to save you from the darkness...

Lyrics - I See A Darkness

Well, you're my friend, that's what you told me
And can you see what's inside of me
Many times we've been out drinking
And many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice, the
kind of thoughts I got
Well you know I have a love, a
love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive to
live I won't let go
But can you see it's opposition,
comes arising up sometimes
That it's dreadful antiposition,
comes blacking in my mind

And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
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And then I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you
Is a hope that somehow you, you
Can save me from this darkness

Well I hope that someday buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see

Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you
Is a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness

for kenneth and chase