The Darkest Stars

Album: Telescope (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The alternate title is "To Anais Nin and Sylvia Plath with Regards, Marilyn." Anais Nin was a memoirist who struggled to be accepted in literary circles and whose complicated love affairs formed the basis of much of her erotica; Sylvia Plath was a poet and novelist who committed suicide at age 30; and Marilyn Monroe suffered a private torment of depression and drug abuse that led to her death at age 36.

    Ryan explains to Songfacts how the three women inspired the song, which ends with the refrain "the good die young": "They are all fascinating and tragic humans. I just started to imagine, you know how sometimes you wake up in the dead of the night, (like 3:00 or 4:00), with all of your worries and concerns of the day spinning around in your head and you can't get back to sleep? Well, I just started to wonder what those three would think about when it happened to them. I imagined they all felt very lonely and frightened. I think everyone who wakes up in that hour has experienced some of the same feelings. I know I have. But those three must have had some pretty dark nights! Yet they shone so brightly in public. Fascinating."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."