r/coheed's Song of the Day #20: The Light & The Glass

This song is one of my favorites. I don't see it spoken of much, and it seems like it's rarely played live, so I wonder how the general fanbase feels about it. I personally think it's incredible and I tend to love it more with every listen. I remember the first time I truly noticed it for what it was. I had been watching the In Keeping Secrets Neverender DVD with my friend, and I had barely listened to In Keeping Secrets much before. A few songs selectively here or there, but you couldn't keep Good Apollo out of my CD player. Didn't even have SSTB yet. Anyways, as we watched, I was mostly ignoring this one as it was the "boring, slow one" after A Favor House Atlantic, which I already didn't like. But then the "Liar" part came on, and I watched in amazement as the crowd sang along. It was so pretty! Then.... I kept on without paying much attention to the rest of the song. Later that day, I decided to listen to IKS all the way through. I was on the way to my previous job to pick up a check, and it was a somber time. The rain was gently falling, and I turned up the volume and soaked up the music. The end of the song; the progression... I was blown away. I've never not trusted this band since.

The Fiction: I think Jesse is either standing in a doorway or laying in a cot, looking at Claudio sitting down chronicling in a journal and he's smiling. He knows things will get rough for him but he enjoys the glimpse of that innocent boy that his nephew once was. He thinks to himself "Slowly the pen touches paper in the guidance of words that you write. Memories roll in of the things you once did and who you shared them with. Is somebody thinking of HIM?"

He then explains everything and acknowledges how hard it is to explain "Words don't come with ease; they're forever my hurt" since he's the bearer of bad news. He continues to comfort Claudio and explain that his countdown to return to Newo is in vain and that his focus needs to be on the mission and what's at stake (Would it really matter if you were to count the days left with your hand? Your focus secure and the loves you left well [Newo is safe at home]. Smiles staged in photographs, here until (Those memories are forever])

Claudio then thinks of Newo as he gets close to breaking down.

Jesse then tries to reaffirm his and Claudio's resolve by mentioning Matthew and Cambria, "Ignoring the words of your obnoxious little brother, "Kill or be Killed" spilled the words from your mother. Jesse can't sleep at this point and justs lays back with the light on thinking in silence. Everything is sinking in with Claudio in the silence.

Jesse acknowledges "You couldn't last a lifetime" knowing his nephews life will never be the same and the kid he knew will be gone now that the situation is changing his role in everything. He know's how much Claudio has lost and given up in such a short time. He kind of taunts him as though Claudio won't accept his fate and says I know you have better things to do than avenge your family and save the world; go carve that girls name in your arm.

Claudio can't accept it and starts calling him a liar and isn't believing the story. Claudio tells his uncle, "Liar, lie away..." His uncle then get's angered by being called a liar and Claudio not heeding his words about his family and tells him "If you die in this, it'd be better than what you're about to go through" (If you get to put to sleep like an old dog, you're better off) Jesse then says, I've told you what you need to hear and what i needed to say, now take time to soak it in (I've been cautious with the words I extend. Allow this year before the world starts to end) as Ambellina looks on.

I think Claudio eventually drifts off to sleep but keeps replaying the scenario of what happened with his family according to his uncle and wakes up crying thinking of his mom crying for his dad. He begins accepting it throughout his sleep and begins to dream that he made it home that night (Which is where 21:13 begins)

I think Jesse is "The Light" as he held the truth about the events that transpired, and Claudio was "The Glass" who was about to break at the news of how everything changed for him in one fell swoop. (Thanks daistaar on songmeanings)

The Real: The beginning seems to be about Claudio's social anxieties and how it translates to his music and lyrics. The whole first verse seems to be a commentary on his writing process, and the difficulty he has putting his feelings to words, and how the fiction is born of that. The chorus seems to be about the distance between him and Chondra at the time of writing. "I measured a distance in lines". The end of the song... I'm not sure. Is Claudio's father dead? If he is, it's about that, duh. If not, then it's his fear to wake to his mother crying about news that his father has died.

The Part: The whole ending sequence is so insanely emotional. It doesn't make any goddamn sense how this song isn't widely recognized as one of the most powerful things in existence. The guitar riff as soon as the "Your father's dead" kicks in is... shit. I fucking tear up. And the guitar solo behind the pray for us all... SHIT. This part of this song proves that this band is talented as fuck and anyone who disagrees can blow a dick.

Speaking of that guitar solo... It's the first legitimate guitar solo(I don't count Time Consumer because it seems to be more noise less rock) in their entire discography. It's a perfect lead-in to the next album, which has multiple guitar solos. This band's discography progresses as well as their individual songs.

Whew. I know this is a long one. Hope you guys don't mind! Also, in the lyrics booklet, it says "My Dearest Apollo, I'll be burning Star IV". What is this, and the subsequent album's title referring to? I never did understand that.