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Dark Necessities

Originally written for someone.

Pearl Jam... one of the great rock bands of the 90s... a Grunge Rock legend... Eddie Vedder... a most unique voice... together, they create this song... well, calling it a 'song' may be doing it an injustice... an anthem...

... You have to be there... in that bar, yellow lighting reflecting off brown wood... the aroma of beer dancing with the fragrance of tobacco... it's around 11pm and the energy in the room is happy... you are surrounded by friends or leaning against a lover... viscerally aware of how good a time you are having and holding on to it hard because you are also aware of the impending approach of the last call...

... You take a sip and let the taste wash around your mouth... and it comes up over the speakers... a switch gets flipped... suddenly, everyone, absolutely everyone is in two places at once... still there but also very far away... you are lost in the hunger of Eddie's voice... whispering the words... shivering as a little tingle of electricity sidles up your spine... head raised or head bowed... almost in prayer... everyone is wistful... remembering lost loves... holding the hand of found loves tightly... stealing soft kisses between sips...

... You don't see it or hear it but... under the lamplight over the table... you feel the gospel ecstasy of a whole hushed room... a silent chorus as he howls "... why can't you be mine"...

... The song is Black... in that room... at the right time... the moment is light.

Song for the moment: Courage - Villagers

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