Earlier this year, when the news broke that Swedish DJ Avicii had died by apparent suicide, I felt incredibly sad. Not because I really loved his music – it’s not really my style – but simply because it’s awful to think of anyone feeling that hopeless, especially someone so young. He was only 28.
Yesterday, on a drive back from the supermarket, ‘Wake Me Up’ came on the radio. It’s actually a beautiful song that I’ve never really paid much attention to and the lyrics struck me as extra poignant following his death.
Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can’t tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start
They tell me I’m too young to understand
They say I’m caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don’t open up my eyes
Well that’s fine by me
So wake me up when it’s all over
When I’m wiser and I’m older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn’t know I was lost
I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
I hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don’t have any plans
I wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life’s a game made for everyone
And love is the prize
This is one of those blogs again where I’m breaking my own rules. I don’t really have a point and if I do, I’m not really sure what it is myself. There’s lots of things that I could write about – how death is not the end; how our legacy lives on in our work and the way we touch the lives of others; how fame and ‘success’ clearly aren’t the answers when it comes to happiness and fulfillment…
In some ways, I think death is a little like art. Five people can all look at the same painting but see, feel and interpret it in completely different ways. People take their own lessons and meanings from the loss of another person.
All I know is that when I heard the song yesterday, I felt the urge to write about it. And a quote came to mind – though I don’t know who said it….
“Do not regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many.”
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