The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Moon" by the artist "White Buffalo, The"

In the song "The Moon" by The White Buffalo, the lyrical hero experiences a profound existential and emotional crisis.

The opening lines "I thought I did it all, but then I didn't think so – The line between good and bad is kind of blurry" speak to a loss of illusions and moral bearings. The hero faces uncertainty, where the line between right and wrong is blurred.

This state is exacerbated by a painful breakup with his beloved: "Oh, and the doubt crept in, and you hit and cursed and left me. And the truth is, it washed me over like an ocean." Abandonment and heartache are compared to the destructive power of the ocean, emphasizing the depth of the hero's experience.

In a state of despair, he contemplates death: "Lonely days I wait for you, But soon I'll be gone to where the shadows and the tombstones lie." The image of "shadows and tombstones" symbolizes the afterlife, where the hero may be striving to find peace.

The question "Will I see, Will I see the moon again?" takes on a symbolic meaning. The moon, traditionally associated with hope, love, and the cyclical nature of life, becomes a symbol of lost happiness and uncertainty about the future for the hero. Will he see it again, will he find peace and meaning in life?

The second verse deepens the hero's existential crisis. He observes other people taking "steps down," perhaps a metaphor for self-destruction or sinking into despair. His lack of understanding of their choices underscores his own lostness. The question "Who knows if they'll come back or if they've already burned to ash?" reflects the fear of the unknown and the irreversibility of choice.

The final lines "But here on the side of the road at night, I realized my love has died" are the culmination of the song. The hero realizes that he has lost not only his beloved, but also his ability to love, making his existence even more bleak.

The repetition of the chorus reinforces the feeling of hopelessness. It remains unclear whether the hero will find the strength to move on or sink into the abyss of despair. "The Moon" is a poignant song about loss, heartache, and the search for meaning in a world where even the moon cannot light the way.