Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Breaking your Fall (For Kingston)” by Mat McHugh
Breaking your Fall (For Kingston) is a melancholic folk-rock anthem that looks back on the singer’s relationship with his deceased brother, Kingston. The lyrics are an ode to Kingston, celebrating his life that was tragically cut short, and the pain that follows his departure. Throughout the song the singer conveys his own guilt and struggle to move on, apologising for times he may have let his brother down.
The song opens with a hopeful outlook on the bittersweetness of grief. Despite pain that follows Kingston’s death, the singer finds hope by remembering the special bond he had with his brother. He sings, “If you could know that your life still had its use, then it’d be no great trespass, for what it’s worth, I’m here to break your fall”. These words convey a willingness to bridge the gap between life and death, feeling a responsibility to do something good in his brother’s absence.
The chorus brings a sense of distress that’s hard to ignore. The lines, “If I had known what I know now, could I have saved us all somehow? Still ghosts now haunt me, and they won’t move on” expresses the guilt of not being able to change the outcome. His brother’s death has taken the singer on an emotional roller coaster. In his attempt to make sense of it all, he finds small moments of comfort, singing “And I remember the way the light filled up the room, when we stood there, or the way you look at me when I half-joked someone, I remember”.
The song bridges hope with sorrow, noting the importance of honouring Kingston’s memory despite the pain that comes from missing him. As the narrator recognises his own inadequacy, he hopes that knowing Kingston’s presence still lingers will bring him solace and courage to move forward. The song speaks to the power of grief, while reassuring the listener that hope and strength can be found in the darkest of places.