I think this will be the love song on the album (a la "My Soul" or "In Years to Come"), as some of its lyrics are "they keep on telling me our stars are crossed. / But I think that you might be my albatross." EDIT: Just saw exanctile's post noting the same thing. My bad.
Agreed, I think the tone comes across that way for sure. And no worries, I spotted those lyrics on the pics of the deluxe vinyl packaging. Excited to hear the full band version after that acoustic preview.
Yeah, the contrast doesn't make a lot of sense to me: crossed stars are negative, but so is an albatross around your neck...
Of course, our culturally widespread notion of "star-crossed [lovers]" mostly goes back to Shakespeare in *Romeo & Juliet*. There we see a case of two people throwing themselves passionately into a love affair in spite of what would be wise and in spite of "fate" or "circumstances" being aligned against them. It is a tragic story, but not one lacking in love between the characters. The idea in Shakespeare that gives rise to the phrase is that THE STARS are conspiring against the lovers. This comes from an earlier idea that the stars determine one's fate (astrological idea). So, this is a case of two people in love but involved in circumstances outside their control that hinder and harm them. The cultural association of the Albatross is from *The Rime of the Ancient Mariner*, that poem by Coleridge; It has been 15 years since I read it, but my recollection of it is that the speaker kills the Albatross early on, then later realizes he was foolish to do so, as the bird was a good omen and killing it leads to his circumstances conspiring against him (storms and whatnot). Then, he ends up cursed to wear the Albatross around his neck as a reminder of his foolishness in initially killing it. So, this is a case of a person creating his own negative "fate" as a result of his rash early behavior. So, maybe the song will be a sweet love song but more from the angle of the speaker and his lover sticking together through difficult circumstances that feel like fate trying to harm them st every turn. Also, he says others CLAIM their stars are crossed. Doesn't mean he thinks it is true.
Knowing his acoustic renditions aren't really indicative of the studio version, any predictions on what the song will actually sound like? I'm expecting a mellower Words in the Water like one, but perhaps we're in for a surprise
I kinda wish we didn't hear the full band snippet of Gnash before the acoustic version. It would've been fun to experience how jarring the difference is. Although, we did get to hear the inverse of electric to acoustic. In any event, I think you're right that this will be lighter or ballad-y.
On first listen, not as immediate as Gnash for me but I’m sure it will grow on me. reminds me of Promises from M/m