Monday Music: Leave by Glen Hansard
This song is more appropriate in light of certain recent events than I’d like. But it’s still the best song I know to describe particularly acrimonious splits.
When I’ve reached my limits, I have a tendency to just sever ties and walk away. It’s easier than trying to mend hurts or breaks.
But sometimes there is no fixing things. You say things that just spill out at the wrong time, to the wrong person and there’s no going back. No do overs. No resets.
But by itself, it’s still a beautiful song with its sparseness, its simplicity. “Leave,” he sings. Because you can’t bear to be near the person, you just want the person out of your sphere so you can attempt to rebuild, regroup and recover.
The best cover I’ve found is this rather slow and sweet rendition which starts off so quietly before the control breaks, and it just becomes an anguished, strangled cry.
The original by Glen:
I can’t wait forever is all that you said
Before you stood up
And you won’t disappoint me
I can do that myself
But I’m glad that you’ve come
Now if you don’t mind
Leave, leave,
And free yourself at the same time
Leave, leave,
I don’t understand, you’ve already gone
And I hope you feel better
Now that it’s out
What took you so long
And the truth has a habit
Of falling out of your mouth
But now that it’s come
If you don’t mind
Leave, leave,
And please yourself at the same time
Leave, leave,
Let go of my hand
You said what you have to now
Leave, leave,
Let go of my hand
You said what you came to now
Leave, leave,
Leave, leave,
Let go of my hand
You said what you have to now
Leave, leave…