First Aid Kit’s Silver Lining

I know this was published in 2014, but this is the first I’m hearing it. These girls from Stockholm have a magical kismet together and I first fell in love with them hearing their song Emmylou. I mean, what kind of self-respecting music lover wouldn’t love a song entitled Emmylou with mentions of Johnny Cash, June Carter and Gram Parsons?

This song has no cryptic language, the lyrics are straightforward and, dare I say, inpiring(?). It’s all about determination in life and they capture this well with this tune with the repeated mantra throughout, “I try to keep on keeping on.” The alto and soprano mix of the girls’ voices keeps great pace with the driving music beneath it, giving us a sense of movement. And forward movement is what the song is all about.

This song is great to listen to while driving to work. Especially to a job you hate.

Lyrics:

I don’t want to wait anymore I’m tired of looking for answers
Take me some place where there’s music and there’s laughter
I don’t know if I’m scared of dying but I’m scared of living too fast, too slow
Regret, remorse, hold on, oh no I’ve got to go
There’s no starting over, no new beginnings, time races on
And you’ve just gotta keep on keeping on
Gotta keep on going, looking straight out on the road
Can’t worry ’bout what’s behind you or what’s coming for you further up the road
I try not to hold on to what is gone, I try to do right what is wrong
I try to keep on keeping on
Yeah I just keep on keeping on

I hear a voice calling
Calling out for me
These shackles I’ve made in an attempt to be free
Be it for reason, be it for love
I won’t take the easy road

I’ve woken up in a hotel room, my worries as big as the moon
Having no idea who or what or where I am
Something good comes with the bad
A song’s never just sad
There’s hope, there’s a silver lining
Show me my silver lining
Show me my silver lining

I hear a voice calling
Calling out for me
These shackles I’ve made in an attempt to be free
Be it for reason, be it for love
I won’t take the easy road

I won’t take the easy road
The easy road, the easy road

I won’t take the easy road
The easy road, the easy road

Show me my silver lining, I try to keep on keeping on
Show me my silver lining, I try to keep on keeping on
Show me my silver lining, I try to keep on keeping on
Show me my silver lining, I try to keep on keeping on

Written by Johanna Kajsa Soederberg, Klara Maria Soederberg • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc