I wrote the State of Absurd a few years ago. I cannot remember what exactly triggered me to write the lyric, but it must have been something I saw on the news, probably the election results in Belgium that put a right wing party in control of our country. I found it so absurd because I voted for another political party, and I felt that my voice was not being heard. Or so it seemed. I know that my vote mattered, and that my political party as an opposition party makes sure that the government doesn't get away with everything. Or at least not without a fight. But, it made me want to write and expand about our so called 'first world problems', in a western civilisation where everybody focuses on the 'I', their own self (whether it is in a materialistic way or in a 'mindful' way).
People these days have the tendency to complain a lot. Vocally and verbally, on social media like facebook, twitter, etc. I wanted to shake them (and myself) up. You-are-allright! You have food! You have clothes. You have Ikea plates! You get to complain on facebook about your political party losing the election. There are people who don't have free speech. They don't get to complain. And you can love. In my case, I live in a country where any love IS love, regardless of race and gender. I get to love my wife. I get to marry her. I get to have babies with her. I get to do all of that.
Yet so many people don't have the same privileges as me. That brings me great sadness sometimes. Especially today, where religion wars rule the world, where innocent people are being beheaded for propaganda reasons, where refugees are being welcomed one minute and clubbed down the next, where babies drown and dentists kill wildlife for fun, I feel we live in a state of absurd. It's in times like these that I turn to love. Love, for me is a safehaven, a place where you can take a breath. Where you can re-gain yourself, regain composure. Therefore I love how the song ends. Every minute with your true love is a minute well-spent....
This song had to be a small one. This song had to be just me on the guitar, with some subtle, trickling piano notes and double bass. It just had to remain that simple. For in the town of 'Regain' there could be no room for baroque, no room for drums, no room for electric bombast. It needed to stay pure, and airy.
Check it out for yourself!
Listen to 'the state of absurd' here
Read lyrics here
Credits
Marjan Debaene: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Bart Parmentier: Upright double bass
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