Music Review: Train "When I Look To The Sky"

When I Look To The Sky
Album: My Private Nation
Year: 2004

Patrick Monahan remembers his late wife in the respectful ballad "When I Look To The Sky."

Honoring pianos begin the single, setting a sentimental tone. In the first verse, he says she died from cancer quickly. During the month, he had been laid off from his job and their baby had a nasty cold. For him, home was the safe place. However, his home life became stressful and rife with anger. He didn't have a break from it all. Within weeks, he had to kiss his wife on the lips on the forehead for the last time.

"When it rains it pours and opens doors/And floods the floors we thought would always keep us safe and dry/And in the midst of sailing ships we sink our lips into the ones we love/That have to say goodbye."

In the chorus, he says that as he goes about his daily routine, he feels her spirit. He can hear her voice encouraging him. Every time he sees the sun shining or a sparkling star, he thinks of her. Her spirit has helped him find his way to the right decisions and figure issues out.

"And as I float along this ocean/I can feel you like a notion that won't seem to let me go/Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me/And you make everything alright/And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me/And I can always find my way when you are here."

In the second verse, he says in heaven he will tell her what he meant to say. He will finally have the slow dance in kitchen he had promised. He will also remember each sunset.

"And every word I didn't say that caught up in some busy day/And every dance on the kitchen floor we didn'thave before/And every sunset that we'll miss I'll wrap them all up in a kiss/And pick you up in all of this when I sail away."

The chorus is sung again.

In the bridge, he feels scattered and overwhelmed most of the time. He feels like he won't ever accomplish anything ever again. However, when he thinks of her, his anxiety goes away. He talks to her sometimes and it helps. However, he doesn't want his grief to control him, either.

"Whether I am up or down or in or out or just plane overhead/Instead it just feels like it is impossible to fly/But with you I can spread my wings/To see me over everything that life may send me/When I am hoping it won't pass me by."

In the second chorus, he says she has brought another wonderful woman into his life. He feels like she gave him her blessing and told him it was all right to move on.

"And when I feel like there is no one that will ever know me/There you are to show me/Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me… And I can always find my way when you are here/And I can always find my way when you are here."

He and his wife had dreamt their life together. They would build a nice home have two kids, and great jobs. Through it all, they would watch their kids grow up into well-adjusted adults and enjoy their lives together. But it didn’t turn out that way. It pains him to see their little girl be without her lovely mother. He didn't think he would be a widow before the age of 30. He regrets the days he didn’t take off and the fights they had over minor things. None of it matters now.

His grateful vocals celebrate his wife. He loved her deeply and she still affects whatever he does. He has met someone, although he isn't sure if he should pursue it. However, he felt reassured by her presence that it would be ok. However, his girlfriend won't ever live up to his wife.

The faithful arrangement places the wife upon the pedestal. It also treats the subject matter as though it were a piece of fine china.

The delicate "When I Look To The Sky" is the band’s first flawless single.

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