“I Will Follow You into the Dark” is a song by the American rock band Death Cab for Cutie. It’s the third single from their fifth album, “Plans,” which was released in 2005. The song was written by Ben Gibbard, who is the lead singer and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie.
In this song, the singer expresses his love for his girlfriend and talks about how they will reunite after death, whether that’s in heaven or hell. The lyrics also have elements of irony related to the Catholic religion.
In this article, we’ll explore the deeper meaning behind the lyrics of the song.
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Inspiration Behind “I Will Follow You into the Dark”
Ben Gibbard, the lead singer, wrote the song spontaneously in a dedicated Seattle studio.
Approaching his 29th birthday, he hadn’t experienced significant loss. However, as he grew older and life became more comfortable, he started thinking deeply about death, the afterlife, and the value of his relationships. This led him to reflect on the importance of the people in his life and compelled him to write the song. It became a way for him to address his struggle of focusing only on life by exploring themes of death and what might follow.
“It’s just this idea that what if somebody dies and we’re just floating, just stumbling around in infinite darkness, and I’m just trying to find some kind of spiritual kind of peace with myself, and the world.”
— Ben Gibbard
“I Will Follow You into the Dark” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 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
In Verse 1, the singer expresses a deep love and commitment to someone. The singer begins by addressing their loved one, acknowledging the inevitability of death. He sings, “Love of mine, someday you will die.”
Despite the acknowledgment of death, the singer promises to be there, even in the afterlife. He expresses a willingness to accompany their loved one in the line “But I’ll be close behind, I’ll follow you into the dark.”
The following line “No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white”suggest that there won’t be any traditional images of heaven or an afterlife. The idea of a “blinding light” and “tunnels to gates of white” as symbols for the afterlife has been commonly associated with near-death experiences (NDEs) and religious beliefs.
In the line “Just our hands clasped so tight, waiting for the hint of a spark,” the singer describes how they’ll be holding hands together when facing death. This symbolizes the strength of their love. The mention of “waiting for the hint of a spark” suggests a sense of anticipation and hope for something meaningful beyond death.
[Chorus]
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
The chorus begins with the lines “If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied/Illuminate the ‘no’s on their vacancy signs.” It’s a hypothetical scenario where Heaven and Hell, often seen as opposing forces or destinations after death, come to a decision that they have no vacancies for more souls.
Because of that, the singer’s lover has no where to go. Lest her soul might feel lost and lonely, the singer decides that he would follow her into the darkness, an unknown place. He sings, “If there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks/Then I’ll follow you into the dark.”
[Verse 2]
In 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
In Verse 2, the singer recalls his time in a strict Catholic school where he received physical punishment. A teacher told him that “fear is the heart of love.”
This phrase can be interpreted in different ways. It may suggest that a sense of fear or reverence is an integral part of one’s love and devotion, especially in a religious context. It could also allude to the idea that fear can be a driving force in romantic relationships.
[Verse 3]
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
But it’s nothing to cry about ’cause we’ll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
In verse 3, the singer reflects on the experiences he’s shared with his loved one, suggesting that together, they’ve witnessed a lot in life. He sings, “You and me have seen everything there is to see.”
In the following lines, “From Bangkok to Calgary, and the soles of your shoes are all worn down, the time for sleep is now,” the singer is reminiscing about the places they have visited together and lamenting the passage of time.
Despite the weariness, the singer reassures that there’s no need to be sad because he’ll soon be reunited with their loved one. He sings, “But there’s nothing to cry about because we’ll hold each other soon.”
The verse ends by describing the place they’ll meet as “the blackest of rooms,” which could symbolize the unknown or the afterlife. Despite the uncertainty of what comes next, their love remains strong.
Deeper Meaning Behind “I Will Follow You into the Dark”
The song “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie is a touching love song that delves into the idea of death and what happens afterlife.
When he wrote the song, Gibbard was almost 29 and hadn’t experienced the loss of a loved one. But as he got older, he began to think about death, the afterlife, and the significance of his relationships. This song was his way of coping with these deep questions and pondering what lies beyond death.
In an interview with NME, Ben Gibbard talked about the song’s meaning:
“Death is an ever-present fear. If not a fear, then an impending reality in our lives. We like to think that when people leave this life, we will see them again someday. Writing a love song that deals specifically with the inevitable death of one’s partner and that you will follow that person into whatever the afterlife is or is not, that’s something that people can relate to.”
Gibbard acknowledges that everyone we know will eventually pass away, and we too will someday, leaving others to mourn.
The music video for the song was filmed in Romania and directed by Jamie Thraves. It depicts Ben Gibbard playing his guitar in a sparsely furnished apartment with a hole that continuously grows larger, and eventually, he jumps into it.
Gibbard explained to NME: “For me when I was visioning the song, the movie of it was forming in my mind. The afterlife is literally just a dark room. I can only interpret the afterlife, if is there such a thing, as the absence of light.”
However, Gibbard isn’t particularly religious. He added: “I don’t personally believe in heaven or hell and have no way of knowing if there is something after this life, I’d like to hope that there is, but until I do then it’s a dark room because I don’t know what’s in it.”
Death is an ever-present fear, and the song captures that fear while also contemplating the possibility of reuniting with our loved ones after we pass away.
There comes a stage in our lives when we attend more weddings than funerals. As we age, we acquire wisdom and experience, but we also become increasingly aware of our mortality.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.