Released: 2017
In “Simple Song”, Passenger delivers a poignant exploration of life’s complexities and hardships. Set against a recurring, seemingly ordinary melody, the song brings to life the inherent beauty and value that can be found in simplicity.
The opening lines introduce the premise of the song – a simple tune that can’t prevent the inevitable ebb and flow of life’s struggles, represented metaphorically as the “rain from coming down” or one’s “heart from breaking”. While a song, no matter how enchanting, doesn’t have the power to halt life’s adversities, there’s an implied solace offered by the harmony and flow of a “simple song”.
As the song progresses, Passenger urges listeners not to dismiss the straightforward charm of a “simple song”, even though it cannot halt the earth from “shaking”, a metaphor for the turbulence, instabilities and uncertainties that life throws our way. The repeated phrase, “you can sing along if you want to”, appears to function as an invitation to share in the communal experience of acknowledging life’s trials, and finding comfort and togetherness in music’s transcendent ability.
Interestingly, its lyrics – “easy ain’t worth singing about” – position hardship as a more profound source of inspiration than tranquility. Passenger seems to suggest that it’s through accepting and embracing life’s challenges that we forge deeper connections to our humanity, and perhaps, derive more substantial narratives for our melodies to carry.
Finally, when Passenger admits “I know it’s far from simple…”, he seems to strike at the heart of the human condition, acknowledging that life’s complexities are what make it nuanced, meaningful, and ultimately, worth singing about. The concluding lines, where he iterates “it’s just a simple song, you can sing along if you want to”, imbues a sense of unity and companionship, reminding us that even in the face of life’s inevitable storms, we always have the choice to sing, to resonate with the music, and to connect with each other through our shared experiences.
In sum, “Simple Song” is a profound testament to the power of music as a conduit for shared human experience, reminding us that simplicity can often bear rich, empowering narratives, and that singing – metaphorically embracing life’s complexities – is a choice we can share and find solace in.
