The River (Part 2)

As I was reading Jason’s drug trip stories and the events that happened in the river, I was reminded of a song by my favourite singer. LIGHTS has a song called “River” that I find reflects some points of the novel. Here are the lyrics:

Out across cities I see buildings turn into piles
and watch the world in wonder, as mountains turn into tiles
and trees losing their leaves and their faces becoming tired
i wish i could discover something that doesn't expire
come stumble me

take me river, carry me far
lead me river, like a mother
take me over to some other unknown
put me in the undertow

such other things that make a kingdom rumble and shatter
the same dynamic that another day would never matter
it really just depends on who's giving and who's receiving
and things that don't make sense are always a little deceiving
come and humble me

take me river, carry me far
lead me river, like a mother
take me over to some other unknown
put me in the undertow

i wanna go where you're going
a follower, following
changing, but never changed
claiming, but never claimed

take me river, carry me far
lead me river, like a mother
take me over to some other unknown
put me in the undertow

take me river, carry me far
lead me river, like a mother
take me over to some other unknown
put me in the undertow

I find that the “Take me river, carry me far” represents Jason’s journey. Throughout his trip with Yorgo, we see more of Jason’s personality. We learn that Jason is too kind hearted to commit the murder of Yorgo. The river carrying him is like his journey of learning; the “Put me in the undertow” part is like where Jason leaves Yorgo. He leaves him in the middle of the river, but he calls for help for him. Although he doesn’t physically help Yorgo, his conscious tells him he should do something and call someone for Yorgo. In the song: “I wish I could discover something that doesn’t expire” everything in Jason’s life has expired. Cheryl expired in the most literal form when she died. Jason’s religious beliefs expired after the massacre because “God is how you deal with everything that’s out of your own control” (Coupland 52) and he realized that if God was truly watching over him, he would have prevented the slaying of his wife.

Link to listen to “River” by LIGHTS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Do_DXFHdY&feature=related