Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Memorial” by Moss Icon
Moss Icon’s powerful post-hardcore song ‘Memorial’ is a powerful and direct call-to-action for listeners to act in support of social issues. Through overtly personal lyricism, gut-wrenching angst, and an anthemic chorus, the band emphasizes the urgency in its vision for a better world. Moss Icon urges the listener to be moved by their own thoughts and feelings, and to join their cause in order to reflect on and honor those who have gone before them.
The song begins with a sound reminiscent of a funeral march before launching into a turbulent and discordant barrage of guitars and drums. This serves to capture the deeply sorrowful emotions of loss that permeate the song. This is accompanied by vocalist Jonathan Vance’s poignant lyricism. He encourages listeners to create a “heavenly funeral”, one which commemorates those who have passed, but also looks towards a better future. Vance paints a vivid picture of a society plagued by violence and injustice, using particularly haunting lines such as “It’s always raining the same old same/the pattern’s always the same”, to emphasize this.
The chorus of the song creates an almost euphoric anthem. Its declarative statement of “We’ll never forget those who died,” asserts that the sacrifices of these people should not be taken lightly. The assertive cadence in Vance’s voice, combined with the unified instruments, creates a powerful sense of communal strength.
The song ends with an extended instrumental outro featuring heartbreakingly beautiful guitars and drums that fade into an ethereal melody. This serves to create a meditative feeling, gently encouraging us to reflect deeply on our own lives and the actions we can take to honor those who have gone before us and demand justice today.
Ultimately, Moss Icon’s ‘Memorial’ is an incredible ode to those who have made incredible sacrifices and it serves as a rallying cry to act in support of bettering society. Through its confrontation of social issues, its passionate lyricism and emotive instrumental, the song stands out as a powerful and poignant reminder to us all.