City and Colour is the stage name of Dallas Green (get it?) and he is one of those happy discoveries. “Two Coins” was on a shared playlist I created a long time ago with my wife and I thought she added the song. She thought I did. Eventually, I proved it was me. I just don’t remember doing it. But it makes sense because the lyrics resonate with me as I, too, have “always been dark.”
I’ve always been dark
—Dallas Green
With light somewhere in the distance
I’ve been so unforgiving
Stranded in old traditions
The Canadian folk musician doesn’t exactly look the type with his tattoos and graying beard, but I suspect that’s the reason for going by City and Colour. It differentiates that music from the rest of what Green may be involved in (though I don’t follow it, he’s apparently also done alternative rock and hardcore punk sub-genres). I’m good with sticking to City and Colour. His latest release—especially “Underground”—spurred me to buy tickets to his show in Toronto this coming August. That might’ve been overly ambitious of me…we’ll see.
Back to “Two Coins” though. This is a song about a man understanding who he is. Additionally, it’s about who he can be. Anyone who has made it past their early teen years knows what it’s like to look back on yourself and cringe, amirite? I promise, no one remembers the awkward things you did. But that feeling you’ve got is not dissimilar from one where someone has done truly shameful things. How egregious those “things” are varies by person and by which barometer you use to measure them. I don’t know what evil lies in Green’s past, but I hope it’s forgivable. Most things are.
As you consider your evil in today’s hangover session, I hope you find forgiveness too. Especially from yourself.
