Existentialism wrapped in beautiful harmonies and an acoustic guitar, “When I Dream About Dying” by Charlie Weathersby is sung to a lover as Weathersby ponders the end of the world.
“The lives we lead could be rendered past.” The world could end at any moment, with no warning. Death is inevitable and unpredictable, and we risk becoming a part of the past every day. Weathersby asks their lover, “how do you want to leave?” They hope to have control in how they die even if the world begins to deteriorate around them.
When Weathersby dreams about dying, “after screaming and crying,” comes quiet acceptance. To “break the silence,” they ask this person “can you hold my hand?” Despite the fear and dread over ceasing to exist, Weathersby finds comfort in being with this person. As long as they are there together, as long as they can hold hands, the idea of the world ending is a little bit less scary.
Even though Weathersby seems fully committed to this person, they are unsure if this commitment is reciprocated. They ask this person if their last words would also be “can you hold my hand?” The poeticism of feeling unsteady even in the one thing that brings you comfort at the end of the world is perfectly representative of existentialism. Existential crises take all of our certainty away, and even cause us to doubt the fact that we are loved. Weathersby emulates that in “When I Dream About Dying,” as they describe the comfort in being loved and the hesitancy in giving love as the world ends.
Written by Emily Cushing
FOLLOW CHARLIE WEATHERSBY:
