All of the best songs draw at least some inspiration for real life, and “Raylene” is no exception, born from thoughts about how hard it is to deliver a eulogy for friends or family when that time comes. How do you sum up a lifetime of memories in a short tribute? The answer is that you can’t, not really; anyone who has tried will know that. But a song is different, perhaps such a form has the sort of longevity and the ability to be all things to all people, that serves the purpose better.
This new one from The Scarlet Goodbye is perhaps a spiritual successor to songs such as James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain. “ It is whistful and reflective, dwelling on the fact that there was still so much life to be lived, shared experiences to be had, and new memories to be made. The takeaway is that life is short, make the most of it!
And, considering the subject matter, Dan Murphy and Jeff Arundel never let the song slip into the melancholic; instead, it is, in its way, joyful, the sort of song that sees you smile through those tears rather than be consumed by them.
The use of members of The See Change Treble Choir who add an ethereal quality to the song’s gentle ways, takes the song out of the realms of mere indie or pop and turn it into a hymn, meditative and, in places, truly angelic.
When my time comes, write a song like this about me, and I will live forever!
