Long Lost Song of Malkier?
So, I'm not sure how many of you have ever heard of a guy named Matthew Miller... you may also have heard him known as Matisyahu. He is a Jewish musical artist that is not quite rap, nor pop, nor reggae, but a combination of a ton of musical genres. I like a handful of his songs, which is how "King Without A Crown" came to be on my iPod. So, of course you know where this is going...
After I read the scene (was it whilst they were in Fal Dara?) when we learn a good deal about Lan's past and the lost Kingdom of Malkier, I was getting in my car to drive somewhere and "King Without A Crown" came on. Instantly, I thought of Lan. The more I hear the song, the more I think of how perfectly it can coincide with a lot of the feelings I think Lan has had in the series.
Ah, but I get ahead of myself...
The first 30 seconds or so of the song is done is a kind of chant. You can hear the entire song (30 second intro included) here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtw_auJITlg.
Now, this kind of chant is exactly what I could see happening in some kind of crowning ceremony. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I can see this kind of chanted song being sung by peoples at the resurrection of Malkier.
Now, back to where I was...
The lyrics just seem to fit so well with what we see of Lan--his never-ending fight against those that took away his home, his love for Nynaeve, the conflict over his feelings for Nynaeve, the feeling that he doesn't have anything but death to look forward to, etc. A link to the full lyrics can be found <here>. However, I'm going to copy and paste the lyrics in here and make a few changes (to make it fit WoTland instead of our world as well as some of the personal pronouns) so you can best see what I mean.
King Without A Crown: (how fitting of a title, too?!)
I said, "You're all that I have and you're all that I need"
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes, I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you there's no me, you're the air that I breathe
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
But I believe, yes I believe, I said, "I believe."
I'll stand on my own two feet, won't be brought down on one knee
I'll fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Dark One's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Dark One's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, a twilight unto the heights
Crown heights burnin' up all through the twilight
Said, "I thank you" to the Light, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart and all my soul and all my might
What's this feeling? My love will rip a hole through the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being
And I sing to the Light, these songs of love and healing
I want you right now, so it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
But I can't have you around, that would only bring me down
Burn away my brain-no way!-my brain is too compound
Elevated my soul, you're a flying my sound
Like the sun of a sun ray burning up through a cloud
Say, this love food for my brain, let it rain till I drown
Thunder, let the blessings come down
Say, this love food for my brain, let it rain till I drown
Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
Give yourself up and then you become whole
I'm a slave to myself and I don't even know
I want to live the fast life but my brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high, then you're bound to stay low
You want the Light but you can't deflate your ego
If you're already there, then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full, then it's bound to overflow
If you're drowning out in the waters and you can't stay afloat
Ask Creator for mercy and he'll throw you a rope
You're looking for help from Him, you say he couldn't be found
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
Like a king without his crown, yes, I wanna get down
A king without his crown, yes, but I keep fallin' down
I really want to live but can't get rid of this frown
Try reach me to the heights and wound down, down, down, down
Say what's this feeling? My love will rip a hole through the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being
An' I sing to the Light, these songs of love and healing
I want you right now, and it's time we start revealing
Said, I'm reelin' you in, I reel you in
Where ya been, where ya been for so long for so long?
It's hard to stay strong
I've been livin' in exile for like too long?
I said, "Where ya been, a where ya been for so long for so long?
What's this feeling? My love will rip a hole through the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being
An' I sing to the Light, these songs of love and healing
I want you right now, and it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling? My love will rip a hole through the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being
An' I sing to the Light, these songs of love and healing
I want you right now, and it's time we start revealing
Said, "I'm reeling you in, where ya been, where ya been??
I said, "I reeling you in, where ya been for so long?
Oh where ya been for so long?
It's hard to stay strong.
Now, am I crazy? It just seemed to mesh so well with me that I can't seem to not think of Lan's plight when I hear this song. Perhaps now you will, too. Tell me what you think!
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