Magnitude from Lauren Oxford by Lauren Oxford
The first and only breakup song I ever wrote, and hopefully will ever have to write. The online community of poets I was active in at the time was really into comparing breakups to thunderstorms, but being long-distance, ours felt much more like an earthquake.
I'm very grateful this relationship happened––it taught me so much and I really grew as a person because of it. My ex and I are both super happy now, and I wish them nothing but the very best.
(I think this might also be the first *real* song I ever wrote with an original melody and chords, so... there's that.)
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Tracklist
| 1. | Magnitude | 5:01 |
Lyrics
oh, we should’ve known
when our families went a-runnin’
but we ignored the little trembles:
we were in love, there was no earthquake coming
we thought the rumbles were thunder
and we both loved dancing in the rain
so we waited for a storm
but the waters never came
the earth spread between us was always our weakness
oh, you were so far away
but this gaping chasm—how it happened, i can’t fathom
call it distance, but we know it’s something different
oh, there was a time
when i loved you more than i’ve loved anything
i built a life,
and it was all around you
oh, i was yours,
and darling, you were mine
but the miles and the silence…
love, we drew our own fault lines
the earth spread between us was always our weakness
oh, you were so far away
but this gaping chasm—how it happened, i can’t fathom
call it distance, but we know it’s something different
oh, they say you can rebuild
from ashes into flame
but you can’t get it all back;
some things will never be the same
so, must we decide
where to cast the blame?
an earthquake is an earthquake—
the rubble is all we can claim
the earth spread between us was always our weakness
oh, you were so far away
but this gaping chasm—how it happened, i can’t fathom
call it distance, but we know it’s something different
Credits
written 2016
Lauren Oxford: lead vocals, ukulele
Dr. Mary Crowell: clarinet
Betsy Tinney: cello
Jen Distad: drum programming
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Lauren Oxford is a songwriter, folksinger, and filker who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her wife Emma & their three cats. Her debut album combines soul-bearing, heartfelt lyricism and lush, thoughtful orchestration, courtesy of some of her dearest friends.
She is also a member of queer Appalachian folk band The Starlight Darlins, whose new studio EP Skyline is out everywhere.