I was going to explain lovely by Billie Eilish but, got a few paragraphs in and realized that I need something more in depth, something that will relate with you and with me, something that needs to be explained, to write a full blog post about it at 1:00 in the morning. So what’s better than “Castle On The Hill” by Ed Sheeran?
I am currently reading Michael Jackson’s autobiography, Moonwalk, and he explains: “It is important to reach people, to move them. Sometimes one can do this with the mosaic of the music melody arrangement and lyrics, sometimes it is the intellectual content of the lyrics.”
I believe Castle On The Hill uses both its melody and its — again, brilliant — lyrics to “move people”. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to analyze the melody, since I am far from being a music expert. So in this post, I’ll focus on the song’s lyrical content. Listening to Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill" takes me on an emotional journey filled with nostalgia, both the bittersweet kind and the uplifting kind. The song's themes of home, youth, and growth resonate deeply with me as I reflect on my own experiences. The opening lines, "When I was six years old, I broke my leg / I was running from my brother and his friends," remind me of the carefree days of my childhood, filled with innocent adventures and the thrill of being young. This evokes the good kind of nostalgia, where I long for those moments of pure joy and freedom.
As the song continues, Ed Sheeran paints vivid pictures of his hometown and the friends he had growing up, singing, "Me and my friends have not thrown up in so long, oh how we've grown." These lines beautifully capture the passage of time and the growth we all go through. It's a reminder that youth doesn't last forever, and the memories we create become precious treasures as we grow older.
However, "Castle on the Hill" also delves into the aspects of bad nostalgia. The chorus, "I'm on my way / Driving at ninety down those country lanes," talks about the reckless abandon of youth. While it's exhilarating to reminisce about the thrill of being young and carefree, it also reminds me of the mistakes we made along the way. We were daring and fearless, but not always responsible, and the consequences of those actions may still linger.
The song's bridge brings a rush of emotions, "And I'm on my way, and I still remember those country lanes / When we did not know the answers." This line highlights the uncertainty of youth, where we were full of dreams and possibilities but lacked the wisdom and experience to navigate life's complexities. It encapsulates the feeling of longing to go back to simpler times, yet understanding that growth and maturation are essential parts of life.
As I listen to "Castle on the Hill," I'm reminded of the beauty of nostalgia, both the joyful and the painful. It teaches me to cherish the memories of my youth, the laughter with friends, the warmth of home, and the experiences that shaped me. Nostalgia can be a comforting embrace, reminding us of who we were and how far we've come. But it's also a poignant reminder to appreciate the present, to embrace growth, and to build a future that we'll one day look back on with fondness. In the end, the song stirs my heart, and I find solace in knowing that the castle on the hill, representing our past and our memories, will forever hold a special place in our hearts, no matter where life's journey takes us.
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