This artist (Vancouver Sleep Clinic) is profoundly Catholic; his lyrics always remind me Our Holy Father John of the Cross’ poems from Dark Night of the Soul. I have even seen him use the phrase, in Latin: “Soli Gloria Domine” (Glory to God Alone).

Lyrics below from several of their songs. Can be read as poems for the interior of the soul, the battle it fights, in order to reach transforming union with Christ Crucified: the Divine Bridegroom and “Lover” of the human heart. Dedicated to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows and the Most Precious Blood of Our Dear Lord.

“Rebirth”

I’ve been searching
For the fossil that once was a fawn
I’ve been waiting
For the sun to rise up with the dawn

Sleeping for 21 hours a day
Fending the doctors away
Bleeding decay

Oh, sweet surrender
Collapse to my knees
Beg and plead
Fill me with everything

I threw this in the fire
Fuelled by my desires
Gave it all away
Led the flock astray
Bent and broken vine
Choking at the spine

Oh, sweet surrender
Collapse to my knees
Beg and plead
Fill me with everything

I’m starting again
Tearing my flesh
Stripped to the bone
The all that I’ve grown
Leaving behind
Breathe like a child
It’s taken the winter
To find who I am

“Aftermath”

Oh lover, asleep at last
Oh lover, it’s in the past
Of dust we rise and dust we part
So bless these lungs and save my heart

“Living Water”

I’d felt alone, I’d lost control
And everything I dreamed, I let go
Emotionless, I wouldn’t let you in
Making me blind to what I love
So I washed up on the shoreline
To chase the city lights
Sold my voice to the people but nothing changed inside

Pushed away from the angels
To the comfort of strangers
In their arms I faded
Feeling further on my own
I’m coming home

In the moments of emotion
Through all the highs and all the lows
I have scoured all the world
But nothing fills me like Your love

In a beautiful surrender
In a bittersweet farewell
It took too long to find the words
But You were all I ever wanted

And now, because you’re melding me inside
And now, because I finally feel alive

My strength was gone, I was not unbreakable
Anything I held was hollow
I gave it all for the promise land
And left the living water
Crossed the world with these empty hands
To find I’m nothing on my own

In the moments of emotion
Through all the highs and the lows
I have scoured all the world
But nothing fills me like Your love
In a beautiful surrender
In a bittersweet farewell
It took too long to find the words
But You were all I ever wanted

And now, because You’re melding me inside
And now, because I finally feel alive

In the moments of emotion
Through all the highs and the lows
I have scoured all the world
But nothing fills me like Your love
In a beautiful surrender
In a bittersweet farewell
It took too long to find the words
But You were all I ever wanted

And I know that I’ve failed a thousand times
In the end, You’re the only home I find

“Wildfire”

With the Hallelujah spilling from your veins
Any joy that’s left laid bare on Christmas day
The steady flow of tears that drain your face
Saying ‘every love I’ve found is leaving me the same

‘There’s a choir of angels crowded in this place
With every voice around you calling out your name
From the depth below you’re never too far gone
From the dust come all things beautiful

Sing into the sky
I’ve had enough
Of living lost

Bring it in the night
I’m coming home
I won’t let go

When you sold the world your soul, it turned away
And it’s promise left you empty and unchanged
It breaks me now to see you hurt this way
From the dust you’ve been made beautiful

Sing into the sky
I’ve had enough
Of living lost

Bring it in the night
I’m coming home
I won’t let go