Dark Sadness: Angel Olsen – “All Mirrors”

Angel Olsen

“All Mirrors”

All Mirrors

The new single from Angel Olsen’s highly anticipated album has dropped, and it is probably the best song of a year of really good music.  The woman I considered single handedly started the “Sad Girl” singer/songwriter renaissance has created one of the most beautiful and saddest song ever.  Ditching her acoustic guitar (at least in the forefront) for a more synthesized sound that emphasizes the darkness of her songs.  “All Mirrors” is about that sensation that everything, every action, every consequence has happened before, and life is a series of mirrors reflecting back your past, present, and future in a continuous Versailles-like mirror room.  Just read the lyrics below, and if you can, catch her live.  One of the best shows ever.  Only three artists have made me cry at their shows:  Angel, Torres, and PJ Harvey.

I’ve been watchin’ all of my past repeatin’
There’s no endin’, and when I stop pretendin’
See you standin’, a million moments landin’
On your smile, buried alive, I could have
Die to stay there, never have to leave there

All this trouble tryin’ to catch right up with me
I keep movin’, knowin’ someday that I will be
Standin’, facin’, all mirrors are erasin’
Losin’ beauty, at least at times it knew me
At least at times it knew me
At least at times it knew me

Standing, facin’, all mirrors are erasin’
Losin’ beauty, at least at times it knew me
Standin’, facin’, all mirrors are erasin’
Losin’ beauty, at least at times it knew me
At least at times it knew me
At least at times it knew me
(At least at times it knew me)
(At least at times it knew me)
(At least at times it knew me)
(At least at times it knew me)