It’s Always Darkest…

My brother (Mark Lenover), released an album on Bandcamp this summer called We’re in Motion Pictures.

His music is sometimes haunting, dark and beautiful. A lot of times his songs deal with struggling with mental health (which he’s done himself). The last song on the album is called It’s Always Darkest and it’s one of my favourites.

Here are the lyrics. You can listen to the actual song for free on Bandcamp too.

I really don’t know much about the sun
but I do know it shines down on everyone
It’ll tax us or sustain us ’till the human race is run
but I really don’t know much about the sun

Though I really don’t know much about the rain
it magnifies your pleasures and your pain
You start to run for cover but it isn’t worth the strain
I really don’t know much about the rain

I really don’t know much about your fear
It draws your eye and whispers in your ear
It makes every obstruction greater than it first appears
but I really don’t know much about your fear

I really don’t know much about despair
but when you haven’t got the energy to care
it makes the slightest burden seem impossible to bear
but I really don’t know much about despair

I really don’t know much about the stars
those brilliant little pin-holes in the dark
but whenever one falls you can bet it leaves a mark
I really don’t know much about the stars

and I really don’t know much about the dawn
once the terrors of the night have shuffled on
I reflect upon the sunlight until all the ghosts are gone
but I really don’t know much about the dawn

— Mark Lenover

To me, this song’s about how we don’t understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s head when they’re struggling — and that they don’t understand it either. And even when we don’t understand (or believe they can exist), there are brighter spots too.

I’m probably not explaining it quite right, but I hope you like the song. If you want, let me know what you think.