When we fall down, when we've reached our lowest point, it can seem so hard to pick ourselves back up again. We may plunge into depression, substance abuse, self-harm or whatever keeps us numb. The hardest part of being so low is being alone while in that rut. However, sometimes the only remedy to pain is patience. Yes, the old cliché of “Time heals all wounds." Still, one of the most comforting feelings is the one we get when we are finally over whatever it was. When we can finally say “I made it through the storm.” The British band Bears Den captures this feeling in the first two songs of their 2013 EP Without/Within, Sahara Pt. 1 and 2.
Part 1 begins with reversed, delayed, and reverberated guitar chords reminiscent of the wind that sets the song's mood. These ambient tones continue for a few seconds until they are interrupted by 3 descending notes that ring in the listener's ear followed by the words; “in the desert sand...” These first words, the title along with the music surrounding them eloquently describe the speaker's feelings and situation: deserted. He feels alone and in a haze much like one would feel in the desert. Now the speaker is not talking about a literal desert sand and being able to feel it “right in between your toes;” he is talking about being so caught up in what you are feeling that it envelops everything in your consciousness, and you are transported to another place where you are surrounded only by the emptiness you feel.
The speaker then states “And as the sun beats down, hard upon your skin, yeah you can feel her now, and all that you can go without, within a flower grows and though nobody asked it to,” In this case “her” represents the desert which represents a literal “her” whom the song is most likely written about. The “flower” that grows “though nobody asked it to” is a joy that starts to appear within the person experiencing pain. When depressed or when you are at a low point it can often be hard to distinguish between the good and the bad, and it's hard to accept that you are not okay. The last line of part 1 reinforces that statement when the speaker states “a bluebird sings and won’t let herself go out of tune.” Although the speaker has been heartbroken and pessimistic, something beautiful is growing and taking the place of that sadness.
Part 1 leads into Part 2 with the line “All my life I wasn’t honest enough, and I thought I would never get over you.” This eludes to the real meaning of the song and the real source of the depression in Part 1. It was a failed relationship. This line is repeated twice for emphasis and then the song starts to kick into a higher gear. A guitar starts playing a very rhythmic riff that is supported by a steady bass drum beat and shaker. It gets the heart pumping and makes the listener want to move and accomplish things. The vocals come in saying “You said that I'd always feel alone but it's the life that I chose you said I could never be happy with anyone, But I found love.” The last part; “I found love,” is repeated 4 times as the beat gets steadier and fuller as the guitar starts to explore over the previously established riff. This gives the song more groove.
After a brief bridge consisting of quick moving chords and a banjo in between, the band goes into the “all my life portion” louder and with more purpose behind it. After a repetition it goes into the “I found love” portion and, just like the previous, is sung with vigor. The song closes soon after that.
The rhythm and movement these two songs bring is one of optimism and progression. One thing that makes this song even more powerful is the music video. It is not about two people; it is not about a breakup. It is about one, singular person who is finally getting over one of their lowest points. The love that she (in the video’s case) finds is not found in another person, however. It is found through art. Further cementing the fact that the only one responsible for getting you out life’s deepest voids is you. Finding solace in your mistakes and misgivings is the first step to gaining peace and being able to move on. We need to look inward for redemption not outward.
