EarCandy #5 - Saint James’ Infirmary by Cab Calloway
- CuppingEars
- Jun 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Life is distracting and persuading. And humans are curious and willing.
Each person lives their life as a story. Everyday, a page; and every page, a detail. Details carry influence, they structure habit, and are easy to lose track of. It takes separation from the details in your life to truly witness their power. As humans, we are unable to separate ourselves from ourselves. As a result these details turn into the plots that write our story.
I often wonder what an alien would think of human life. Especially in songs like Saint James’ Infirmary. Where beauty meets depression for a result of attraction. The story of Saint James’ Infirmary is one of pressure: where life looks forward to death; and death is not feared, but rather expected. Where life and death share a sense of harmony in regard to juncture; for every human will share it regardless of their details.
I am tempted to call St. James’ Infirmary a sad song, but if you listen to its tone, there is a sense of contentment that follows the acceptance of life and death. The only thing known about life is what is in front and behind you. Other than that, all we know is that life is a prequel to death.
St. James’ Infirmary gives us an opportunity to feel a life none of us have lived. Music is powerful that way. This song made me realize that just like life, death can be lived too. Just a shift in perspective.
Music can bring us comfort with death. As well as life. Songs are maps of other peoples’ relationship with what life offers; and doesn’t. If attention is there, a lot can be learned. Music can be used as a tool of separation - an opportunity to live our lives in the third person - that’s pretty special.
Well said. I feel people are drawn to certain genres of music, and thus their interpretations of those songs, based on their life experience. Music is an outward expression of the people we are when we sometimes struggle to convey ourselves to the world. Recongizing our mortality is no small feat and our culture tends to supress doing so; there is a lot to be said about contemplating, as you say, "life being a prequel to death."
Whoa - love this: This song made me realize that just like life, death can be lived too. I feel like Shelley lived her death.