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Death Cab for Cutie — I Will Follow You into the Dark
Album: Plans
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3948









Released: 2005
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Love of mine
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light,
Or tunnels to gates of white,
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the "No"s on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

And Catholic school,
As vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised
By a lady in black
And I held my tongue
As she told me "Son,
Fear is the heart of love,"
So I never went back

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the "No"s on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me
Have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes
Are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the "No"s on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Comments (269)add comment
 k3rmit wrote:

I'm neither a lyricist nor a theologian, but I think this is about suicide. Heaven and hell both have "no vacancy signs"? A verse about Catholics? Sounds like the concept of Purgatory to me, which some Catholics believe is the destiny of victims of suicide. Which reminds me of the Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come". Yikes. Just connected those dots too. Tragic.



Wow... I hate to say you're ignorant... but.....

It's a love song, pure and simple. And a denouement of the fairy tale of religious afterlife. 
I too was a Catholic School survivor (like the song writer) and my experience matches the lyrics exactly, I questioned a nun and was punished for my inquisitive nature.
This song has romantic overtones, of course, but reading the lyrics and hearing the song, as the parent of a child who has had serious health issues, it's like being punched. Fear is the heart of love? It's certainly in there. 
 dgeagon wrote:


Oh when you have to deal with increasing loss as you get older, you will understand. However, getting older, even with all the baggage, is still surprisingly good. Below is advice that I live by.

I have come to see growing old as a privilege. Nobody should lament getting one year older, another grey hair or a wrinkle. Instead, be pleased that you’ve made it. If you feel like you haven’t made the most of your last year, try to use your next one better. (Elliot Dallen, 31 year old who died of cancer)

That is excellent advice - my knees may creak but I still have them and it was fun getting them this creaky. I'm into my 60's now and I do understand about the loss.  I suppose my comment should really have been that not many songs can manage to make a sad subject into such a wonderful expression of love. 
RIP Elliott!
 hellsgardener wrote:

I'm still baffled by how such a sad song can be one of the loveliest love songs ever



Oh when you have to deal with increasing loss as you get older, you will understand. However, getting older, even with all the baggage, is still surprisingly good. Below is advice that I live by.

I have come to see growing old as a privilege. Nobody should lament getting one year older, another grey hair or a wrinkle. Instead, be pleased that you’ve made it. If you feel like you haven’t made the most of your last year, try to use your next one better. (Elliot Dallen, 31 year old who died of cancer)
 fredriley wrote:

This is poignant and puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. 8 from the lachrymose Nottingham jury.


Same here until I just finished watching "After Life" and boy this song was used to perfection in the final episode.  The fact that Ricky G's character has a German Shepard to spend his life after his wife's death surely hit too close to home for me as my wife was away for a week and it was just me and our German Shepard home alone.  
Anyways, +1 to 9 for me.
Long Live RP and my wife and dog, Ei and Juno!!
I'm still baffled by how such a sad song can be one of the loveliest love songs ever
The most cheerful sounding  of sad songs.  And, I always stop to listen.
This is poignant and puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. 8 from the lachrymose Nottingham jury.
Saw Death Cab last Friday night at the The Greek here in LA. Great concert-just a fun time. Glad I got the chance to see them live. 
i just saw Death Cab for Cutie in Oakland last Sunday. Great show. The lead singer came out to sing this song by himself with only an acoustic guitar, and it was a stellar performance. He did say, by way of an introduction, that he grew up Catholic, going to church every Sunday as well as Catholic school, and although he has not been to church "in years," this song came out of that experience. And of course we all sang along when he said "open your pop hymnals and sing along". 
 DarkManiels wrote:

Ah man, first connected with this song when I heard it in a heart-wrenching documentary called Blood Brother, about HIV-positive children living in an orphanage in India. Haven't been able to listen to it without tearing up ever since....




All I have to hear it, and I tear up every time, since 2005
 timmus wrote:
For me this will always be "Illuminate the nose on their vacancy signs".  The other way is too hard to parse so I'm not going for it.



Illuminate the NOs on the Vacancy Signs. No Vacancy
For me this will always be "Illuminate the nose on their vacancy signs".  The other way is too hard to parse so I'm not going for it.
Ah man, first connected with this song when I heard it in a heart-wrenching documentary called Blood Brother, about HIV-positive children living in an orphanage in India. Haven't been able to listen to it without tearing up ever since....
 ProfessionalGeek wrote:

"Illuminate the nose on their vacancy signs"



This comment stinks.
Bev.
I'm neither a lyricist nor a theologian, but I think this is about suicide. Heaven and hell both have "no vacancy signs"? A verse about Catholics? Sounds like the concept of Purgatory to me, which some Catholics believe is the destiny of victims of suicide. Which reminds me of the Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come". Yikes. Just connected those dots too. Tragic.

Ciao Lorenzo :)
 mjbaumann wrote:Jelani wrote:

I don't understand why you can spell out dick, but can't spell out cunt. Please repl?

Ere ya Go Jelani:

The C word is One of "Seven Words you can't say on television" ala George Carlin (RIP) plus F@rt, Trd and Tw@t
This song stirs up such feelings of joy and sorrow in me, especially in light of all of the years that start with 202-.

May you be able to find the joy.
Nice follow up to Vienna Teng's "Passage"
 dwlangham wrote:


I attacked the song. You attacked me. Which of us is the dick?


I guess its me, as I was born XY
 Jelani wrote:



I don't understand why you can spell out dick, but can't spell out cunt. Please reply?

Ere ya Go Jelani:


The C word is One of "Seven Words you can't say on television" ala George Carlin (RIP) plus F@rt, Trd and Tw@t
Ask an ancient Roman if they'd prefer slavery, crucifixion or condemnation to the beasts over getting their knuckles bruised in Catholic school.
This song is played way, way , too much. Maybe your lady would appreciate a different way to express your love and devotion? Please. It isn’t even that good of a song!
 PCHarter wrote:

Believe it or not...
the very first time I heard this I was laying beside my mate on their death bed,  cancer 😭




Damn.  Late in coming I know but ... peace.
 Zep wrote:

When my spouse passed two years ago, I was tempted to do precisely this. 




sad lyrics.



from Bankok to Calgary; that's quite the trip.



Hope there is a Priest nearby when it's my turn! Ave Maria. JMJ I love you... save souls.
When my spouse passed two years ago, I was tempted to do precisely this. 
HAPPY SATURDAY 8/14/2021 to us all.
Happy Saturday to us all -
 mjbaumann wrote:


You are either a Dick or a C**t since I cant glean your gender preference. Please don't rate down and comment like this, simply PSD and move on, so the rest of us can enjoy with out having to tolerate your bilious shitposting.

Thank You, and have a nice day.



I don't understand why you can spell out dick, but can't spell out cunt. Please reply?
 mjbaumann wrote:


You are either a Dick or a C**t since I cant glean your gender preference. Please don't rate down and comment like this, simply PSD and move on, so the rest of us can enjoy with out having to tolerate your bilious shitposting.

Thank You, and have a nice day.
 

I attacked the song. You attacked me. Which of us is the dick?
I really like this song, but I've always thought it desperately needed an unexpected sounding instrumental bridge, like In My Life by the Beatles has. Gibbard never stops singing once throughout the entire song. "Will you shut up, man?"
Dreck
From Bellingham, WA, eh?

That is why they know where Calgary is.  
 dwlangham wrote:
I see my 1 rating didn't do much to drag the average down. What maudlin crap.
 

You are either a Dick or a C**t since I cant glean your gender preference. Please don't rate down and comment like this, simply PSD and move on, so the rest of us can enjoy with out having to tolerate your bilious shitposting.

Thank You, and have a nice day.
I see my 1 rating didn't do much to drag the average down. What maudlin crap.
I don't enjoy this song, except when I think about the illuminated nose on the No Vacancy sign.
 PCHarter wrote:
Believe it or not...
the very first time I heard this I was laying beside my mate on their death bed,  cancer 😭
 
I'm so sorry
Jesus, this is cloying.
 Grammarcop wrote:
I think the people who interpret this song as a suicide pact are misunderstanding it. I believe they are seeing the lyrics through the prism of their own (relative) youth. But I think Gibbard is imagining the story through the eyes of two elderly people who have had a rich life together and know they are nearing the end. 

Why? These five lines:

You and me
Have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes
Are all worn down

It's a song about two people, deeply in love and dedicated to one another. There's nothing creepy about that. 


 

Good comment. I see Cutie as purveyors of thanatos pop, almost goth at times. 
 opaceo wrote:
 

islander wrote:
I normally love Bill's transitions. But this following the Ramone's do you wanna dance is like coming around a corner at full speed and finding 4 lanes of stopped traffic.

nickferrante10 wrote:

Great description! BTW same transition 2 months later.
 
And the same transition just occurred 4 weeks after nickferrante10's post ... 
 
And again today.
 

islander wrote:
I normally love Bill's transitions. But this following the Ramone's do you wanna dance is like coming around a corner at full speed and finding 4 lanes of stopped traffic.

nickferrante10 wrote:

Great description! BTW same transition 2 months later.
 
And the same transition just occurred 4 weeks after nickferrante10's post ... 
 bettylistens wrote:
Thanks Jim and Rebecca, working from home in NZ but often listen at work office too.
 

Uh oh....BiilG's got competition in Paradise now?
Treacle
 freddyfender wrote:
I lived this as well..

And Catholic school,
As vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised
By a lady in black
And I held my tongue
As she told me "Son,
Fear is the heart of love,"
So I never went back
 
Wimp!
 islander wrote:
I normally love Bill's transitions. But this following the Ramone's do you wanna dance is like coming around a corner at full speed and finding 4 lanes of stopped traffic. 
 
Great description! BTW same transition 2 months later.
 freddyfender wrote:
I lived this as well..

And Catholic school,
As vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised
By a lady in black
And I held my tongue
As she told me "Son,
Fear is the heart of love,"
So I never went back
 

uh what's with DCFC obsession lately. 3-4 times a day? Really?
Thank you for introducing me to DCFC Bean ❤️
Thanks Jim and Rebecca, working from home in NZ but often listen at work office too.
I normally love Bill's transitions. But this following the Ramone's do you wanna dance is like coming around a corner at full speed and finding 4 lanes of stopped traffic. 
Sounds so cheerful yet so dark.  Love it.
 admascott wrote:
Statistically she will outlive him.
 

So true, and so funny
Statistically she will outlive him.
 kazoo wrote:
Is this about a murder suicide pact?
 
No.
Only RP can do it, but someday please play "Racing the Angels" with this song.
Is this about a murder suicide pact?
"Illuminate the nose on their vacancy signs"
 phlattop wrote:


"Simply put, Catholics are as dumb as a sack of rocks ...their "priests" are losers and / or criminals"

wow, what a nasty statement. Former catholic here. While I disagree with a lot of what the Catholic church says and does, I would NEVER make such a broad generalization about other catholics. Plenty of people have been born into that religion in countries where the Church is dominant. Those people often have their own issues but are hardwired to still practice.
 
I practice because I'm part of a very caring, accepting, and diverse Catholic community that even has a very active LGBTQ ministry with some of the most loving, creative people I've ever met.  I weep for those who've been hurt and alienated by intolerant Catholics.
I also don't pretend to be an "intellectual", but do feel I'm a little smarter than a sack of rocks.
Well, I didn't expect to be in tears here at work today.  Thanks RP for making me feel all the feels. 
 radioparadise9 wrote:
 jjfflyboy wrote:
With apologies to everyone who has been hurt by Catholic clergy, I believe this song perpetuates a long dead stereotype of Catholic schools. This is one reason why I don't like the song. Another reason I don't like this song is, it clouds Catholic belief with the line 'fear is the heart of love'. I'll let St. Therese the Little Flower clarify the heart of love: check out her book: "Story of a Soul".
 
History hasn't been kind to the delusion that Catholic (and other religions) clergy have stopped abusing children and covering it up.

Catholicism has a credibility chasm between the romanticized nonsense of "St. Therese" the Little Flower and the harsh reality of :

Ignorance: the Sun revolves around the Earth
Lies: the "Flood"
Misogyny: women are second class people
Systemic, world wide child abuse.
Papal "infallibility": what a crock
Simony
Divorces for sale: $25,000
Tax evasion: a true parasite, it does not pay income taxes in the societies it feeds upon
+++

Simply put, Catholics are as dumb as a sack of rocks ...their "priests" are losers and / or criminals












 

"Simply put, Catholics are as dumb as a sack of rocks ...their "priests" are losers and / or criminals"

wow, what a nasty statement. Former catholic here. While I disagree with a lot of what the Catholic church says and does, I would NEVER make such a broad generalization about other catholics. Plenty of people have been born into that religion in countries where the Church is dominant. Those people often have their own issues but are hardwired to still practice.
Makes me feel sad, or happy?
Would be better if it said: “I follow you into the light”.
This is becoming one of my favorite bands.
 nutrod42 wrote:
You know, I just don't like this band. I find the vocals annoying and the songs aren't very good.
 
“Nut Rod”, how aptly named. 
What a lovely song. Of course Dickens portrayed the same sentiments, with his usual bludgeon of his special firehose of gazillions of words, many times. Gawd did those Victorians love 'em a good beatdown! But the enduring, unbreakable love-theme, however portrayed, never gets the Time workout. 
 dwhartography wrote:
Believe it or not...
the very first time I heard this I was laying beside my mate on their death bed,  cancer 😭
 
Hugs!  Long Live RP....and memories of your mate pre-cancer
My girls were 12 when they first heard this on my continuous RP playlist...
And they loved it.

And they made me pay attention, and love it too. 
Believe it or not...
the very first time I heard this I was laying beside my mate on their death bed,  cancer 😭
This was an encore the other night. Everyone sang along. It was a lovely moment.
 flight750 wrote:

[FWIW, I have never had anything to do with the Catholic church, nor any political party.  I am so happy to be able to say that because outside looking in is a much better view.]
 

I haven't even read the OP comment yet your 'FWIW' is so VERY true...and true for me too....cool...now PEACE...and Long Live RP!!
 radioparadise9 wrote:
<snip>

Simply put, Catholics are as dumb as a sack of rocks ...

<snip again>

 
Actually, everything you said except what I quoted above I totally agree with - The Catholic church has all the faults you mention (and plenty more, I'm sure), but I think that a "broad brush" statement about the people who get sucked into the thinking in the church have as many different stories as people who get sucked into thinking and dogma in political parties, which we see so much of these days; reasonably smart people who don't know what they are missing get suckered too.

[FWIW, I have never had anything to do with the Catholic church, nor any political party.  I am so happy to be able to say that because outside looking in is a much better view.]
I liked this once upon a time. Third play it got old and that was long time ago.
 Furry wrote:
Please play this sappy, maudlin drivel a lot less!
 

"One thing you can't hide .... is when you're crippled inside" J Lennon 1971
Please play this sappy, maudlin drivel a lot less!
 jjfflyboy wrote:
With apologies to everyone who has been hurt by Catholic clergy, I believe this song perpetuates a long dead stereotype of Catholic schools. This is one reason why I don't like the song. Another reason I don't like this song is, it clouds Catholic belief with the line 'fear is the heart of love'. I'll let St. Therese the Little Flower clarify the heart of love: check out her book: "Story of a Soul".
 
History hasn't been kind to the delusion that Catholic (and other religions) clergy have stopped abusing children and covering it up.

Catholicism has a credibility chasm between the romanticized nonsense of "St. Therese" the Little Flower and the harsh reality of :

Ignorance: the Sun revolves around the Earth
Lies: the "Flood"
Misogyny: women are second class people
Systemic, world wide child abuse.
Papal "infallibility": what a crock
Simony
Divorces for sale: $25,000
Tax evasion: a true parasite, it does not pay income taxes in the societies it feeds upon
+++

Simply put, Catholics are as dumb as a sack of rocks ...their "priests" are losers and / or criminals


* UPDATE: check out "Tuam" for further evidence that the "Sisters"were monsters

 Antigone wrote:
This song is fine, but to me it is starting to feel overplayed. PSD!
 
Same!
I lived this as well..

And Catholic school,
As vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised
By a lady in black
And I held my tongue
As she told me "Son,
Fear is the heart of love,"
So I never went back
Please don't follow with Jason Isbelle's vampires... too much.  Too much...
This song is fine, but to me it is starting to feel overplayed. PSD!
If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the "No"s on their vacancy signs
 nutrod42 wrote:
You know, I just don't like this band. I find the vocals annoying and the songs aren't very good.

 
And I feel the opposite. Isn't it funny how that works?
You know, I just don't like this band. I find the vocals annoying and the songs aren't very good.
This song is so good it defies description. I especially like the anti-religious message. We can use more truth like that in the world today. And I strongly agree that it is not in any way related to suicide...its about love!
I think the people who interpret this song as a suicide pact are misunderstanding it. I believe they are seeing the lyrics through the prism of their own (relative) youth. But I think Gibbard is imagining the story through the eyes of two elderly people who have had a rich life together and know they are nearing the end. 

Why? These five lines:

You and me
Have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes
Are all worn down

It's a song about two people, deeply in love and dedicated to one another. There's nothing creepy about that. 


you know, this would make a great pairing with Gibbard's "Me and Magdalena" that he gave to the Monkees recent album. Sung by Mike, with background by Mickey, it's a beautiful, happy/sad thing about making your way to the "undiscovered." My fave song on that album, and a surprise that they could do something so wonderful at this point in their lives.
Are you guys not tired of making me cry 
 Shotoverplain wrote:
seriously depressing
 
It's sad to think that we eventually die, but this is about a life of love and adventure. I suppose if you have to have an arc that ends in the grave, having love and memories make it a little better.
What a well crafted song.
 freemusic wrote:
Loved the song... until I read/saw/heard the lyrics....   Now?  PSD == Sickening, and yes, it does sound like a suicide pact. 

 
Take a closer listen. They've seen everything to see from one side of the planet to the other. They're already near the end of their lives. Have you heard what happens to old men whose wives die before them
 Dave_Mack wrote:
This song always generates a switch to KPIG.

Although I do like that part about illuminating the nose.
 
The Dong! The Dong! The Dong with Luminous Nose!
This song always generates a switch to KPIG.

Although I do like that part about illuminating the nose.
Nice imaging on the vocals on this track
 
I like the clever Beatles connection: "In Liverpool", followed by "Fool on the Hill" from the Magical Mystery Tour, followed by Death Cab for Cutie, a band named after a song from the Magical Mystery Tour film.
What a beautiful love song... I love Death Cab
seriously depressing
 squibby wrote:
This is a great song, and Ben Gibbard is one of the best songwriters of recent years.  I think that, ike Dylan, Lou Reed, etc., some people dont like his voice, I get it, there are singers that bug me too, but I do think this band is great, 

 
His voice is quite okay. And yeah - the song's just great and recognizable.
I read Leonard Cohen's farewell letter to Marianne a couple of days ago, and it reminded me of this song (well, "So Long, Marianne" and "Bird on a Wire" as well). 
 Bluenoser wrote:
Wow. First good song that I've heard from these guys. Beginning of a redemption maybe. 

 
Except that this was released in 2005.  OTOH, I would say they have grown fabulously since this simple (yet nice) little ditty.
Wow. First good song that I've heard from these guys. Beginning of a redemption maybe. 
This is a great song, and Ben Gibbard is one of the best songwriters of recent years.  I think that, ike Dylan, Lou Reed, etc., some people dont like his voice, I get it, there are singers that bug me too, but I do think this band is great, 
The more I actually listen to it, the worse it gets.
Yes.Please stop it.
Please, please stop this song.
At least a 9 for me...may end up being higher. Just a great song. 
Dang Bill is trying to make us all introspective with this set. In Liverpool by Suzanne Vega > Fool on the Hill by the Beatles > I Will Follow You Into the Dark. *grabs a tissue*
Always loved this song and this band, but when I heard a good friend of mine sing it at her beloved Grandfather's memorial service it took on a deeper meaning.  I get teary when I hear it now.  My loveband and I are past the middle of our lives.  All but one of our parents are gone.  At least one of our friends dies every year now.   It's not just a song anymore, but I still love it.
cutesy garbage {#Rolleyes}
Love.
 RadioDoc wrote:

No, it's not that. It is the whiny, phoned-in talentless performance that is the primary problem.  Put this in the hands of someone who can actually sing and it would be great.

 
Wow again. But do you like it?
 merobreno wrote:
WOW. Stunned by the negative reactions. I see this as the ultimate love song. A gut wrenching affirmation of love and devotion that I think most folks can not really relate to anymore. In fact, when I hear this song, I always wonder how someone so young could have possibly have written it. It cuts me to the bone and wish this kind of compassion could find its way into the world as a whole. Gut wrenching.
 
No, it's not that. It is the whiny, phoned-in talentless performance that is the primary problem.  Put this in the hands of someone who can actually sing and it would be great.
Great song.
As someone who has dealt with an abundance of death, it took me not long to realize it is only part of life.
Nothing to fear , nothing to embrace, its only a change. No one can go there for you. This song is just a song.      
Apparently not many sentimental-types here at RP.
Cloying and maudlin. It's "gut wrenching" all right. {#Eyes}
WOW. Stunned by the negative reactions. I see this as the ultimate love song. A gut wrenching affirmation of love and devotion that I think most folks can not really relate to anymore. In fact, when I hear this song, I always wonder how someone so young could have possibly have written it. It cuts me to the bone and wish this kind of compassion could find its way into the world as a whole. Gut wrenching.
Loved the song... until I read/saw/heard the lyrics....   Now?  PSD == Sickening, and yes, it does sound like a suicide pact. 
Not a big fan of this one.
Emo-whiney drivel.
This song sounds worse and worse to me each time I hear it. I think it's supposed to be an affirmation of eternal love, but telling a lover (who's, what, 25?) "one day you'll die and go into eternal darkness, and I'll be right behind you" is I think more morbid (and more than a little creepy) than reassuring.