I'll find strength in pain...

The following is a guest post that my sister wrote on her own blog. It was so good, and exactly described my thoughts about the song she writes about that I asked her if I could use the post for my own blog.


Nearly every song on Mumford and Son's album (Sigh No More) expresses everything I have ever wanted to express about the world and my life. Especially The Cave.

I love The Cave so much I am deeply, seriously, undeniably considering getting the line "I'll find strength in pain" tattooed on my foot. I chose my foot (in case you're curious) because of the first stanza: "the sun it rises slowly as you walk / away from all the fears / and all the faults you left behind"

Whenever I listen to The Cave, I hear two voices. I hear myself--talking to my depression and telling it to back off, go away, because I am better, stronger, a fighter. ("So make your siren's call / and sing all you want / I will not hear what you have to say / cuz I need freedom now / and I need to know how / to live my life as it's meant to be...")

But most of all... I hear God. I hear him saying "I will hold on hope / I won't let you choke / on the noose around your neck." And suddenly nothing has ever mattered except for this moment, because God is telling me it's going to be okay.

------
The Cave (Mumford and Sons)

It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again