I've been a fan of Vienna Teng for quite a while now, which until recently has mostly meant listening to her backlog, because she's been on a musical hiatus for a while. But recently, she released a new single - or rather, a set of singles.
We've Got You is a song in two pieces, meant to work well both individually as well as when played simultaneously. The two contrast with each other beautifully, and as usual with Vienna's music, the lyrics are layered with potential meaning.
The first interpretation that came to mind was climate-related. Here's how I read it. Part I ("Spark") is partly about drawing attention to the issue and trying to bring people out. Part II ("Comfort") speaks to feeling tired and wanting to just live your life without thinking about all of the work that needs to be done.
I love this interpretation, because I think anyone who's been in climate advocacy for any period of time has felt both: the urgency of the problems we face and the urgency of working towards solutions, but also the exhaustion after seeing minimal progress (and sometimes backslides) after years of work.
The interplay between the lyrics of each half is wonderful:
| Spark | Comfort |
|---|---|
| we've got work to do
going digging digging digging digging digging deep this time 'cause this goes way back | deny it
defy it too much to know too much for one small heart |
Spark is taking on the challenge. Comfort is not wanting to think about it, because it's all just too overwhelming. And I think a lot of us can relate to both of these feelings.
| Spark | Comfort |
|---|---|
| but we're already tired
going digging digging digging digging digging deep this time before we're laid flat and we are fed up and full of fury gonna rise up rise up rise up rise up rise up tall this time and climb our way back to love | but why this
injustice too much is lost too much to swallow down why is this the deadly road we keep barrelling on too much unlearned too late to turn |
It's easy to feel like it's too late to do anything about the climate at this point and slip into despair. But as a society we still have to keep fighting for change, because there's still a wide range of possible futures. Even if we can't stay below 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, the difference between e.g. 2 degrees and 3 degrees is still hugely impactful for our children and grandchildren.
But not everyone needs to be fighting all the time. We're all human, and there's only so much we can do. We can all get tired and burnt out sometimes, and that's okay. It doesn't make you a failure, it just means you're human. We need to bear this burden together, and when some of us are tired, others can take up the cause.
| Spark | Comfort |
|---|---|
| and in our ears and on our minds
beyond your tears your rallying cry is calling us out again calling us in again we watch you draw their frightened fire you're keeping calm you're aiming higher, it's telling us "look ahead let's build the day we wanna have" | but somewhere near the dawn
there are bodies linking arms in the street growing threads, a hand raised at a table and as far as you have gone someone will go beyond we are many now and even more to come |
That last Spark line, "let's build the day we wanna have", is probably my favorite line of the song. Because it's true, we all collectively get the world that we all collectively build.
The other overt interpretation, on the Comfort side, is about taking care of the people in our lives who need it:
| Comfort |
|---|
| but somewhere in the dark
the quiet sweeping arc of a broom folding cloth, swirl of soap and water and before you can insist there's no need for all of this we are gathered 'round and finally tears can come |
| ... |
| so let go, we'll bear the weight awhile
lay down, we'll walk the waiting miles when you're not alright we've got you we've got you |
This part got to me a bit, because I have an old friend who's been going through hard times lately. But they mostly won't accept help or company, so it's been hard to do anything for them. My friends and I try, but there's only so much we can do. They probably will never end up reading this, but if you do: know that you are loved.
There are surely more interpretations that one could read from this song too. That's one of the great things about Vienna's music - not only is it super catchy, there's so much meaning lying just below the surface.
Give it a listen. Highly recommend.