Marching Into the Dark

Album: Darkness & Light (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, John Legend reflects on the struggles endured by Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists. He explained to the Los Angeles Times:

    "The idea of struggle and the idea of putting your life on the line for an important cause, the metaphor we use is that they're chasing a fading star into the dark. They're struggling for an end they may never see. Everything I talk about - improving our schools, prison reform, making sure everyone has an equal opportunity - I don't know if we'll ever get there, frankly, I'm pessimistic. But I'm optimistic enough to know that even the little wins count. So the struggle is worth it."
  • Legend asks in the chorus: "What good is a dream when the dreamer dies?"

    "I don't have any firm belief in the afterlife," explained the singer to the BBC. "So in the song I'm like, 'Is it worth it to die for a cause?'"

    "I guess my resolution at the end is, 'You know what? You got to go for it. You've got to struggle, and try to make the world better," he added. "We might as well go ahead and march into the dark.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.