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You Bring Light In

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • Mar 31
  • 7 min read

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Photo credit (edited), photo credit (edited), fair use

 

There’s quite a bit of speculation online concerning the track “Two Months Off” from British electronic dance music (EDM) group Underworld and featured on their sixth album A Hundred Days Off (2002). The song’s spoken word introduction features Juanita Boxill stating:

 

There was a little drawing of a heart next to that

Followed by an exclamation mark

The back of his was covered in stuff, stuff like

‘Brandon is not a very nice guy, but Alex is so nice’

And that had the exclamation thing, too

It was just silly crap that hit the spot

And he let himself be drawn in

 

While listening to the extended version of this song and searching the Internet for the official meaning of a track that I’ve enjoyed for years, people have offered opinions regarding their interpretation of Underworld vocalist Karl Hyde’s lyrics which I’ll address momentarily.

 

Regarding most sources I’ve reviewed, people generally agree that Boxill’s seemingly random intro is a nice addition to the track. There’s something I find uniquely interesting about it, too. It’s as though I’ve eavesdropped into a conversation about Boxill’s memory of simpler times.

 

In any case, Hyde repeats throughout the track, “You bring light in,” as he states in the first verse, “You bring light into a dark place. Walking in light, glowing, walking in light. Gold ring around you, the hues of you. The golden sunlight of you.”

 

If I were to hazard a guess, using content offered by Boxill and Hyde, a male allowed himself to become fascinated with someone who he desired. While whomever it is that he wanted was focused on Brandon and Alex, the protagonist “let himself be drawn in” to the situation.

 

This episode of enchantment is initially presented as euphoric. If the individual of his desire is said to bring light it, one imagines that whomever it is being obsessed over is thought to be almost ethereal in nature – even infallible. Hyde’s lyrics support this supposition.

 

Still, looking beyond the surface of the evidently satisfying experience, I pay attention to Hyde’s mention of “light into a dark place.” The inference is that the protagonist is otherwise distressed or disturbed. Could it be that the person after whom the protagonist pines is merely an escape?

 

Hyde continues, “Cool wind following, following after you. Rising for you, your skin, beautiful. Everything comes natural, fantastic fan. Rocking, rocking, floating.” It would appear as though the protagonist is awestruck by the individual of his desire, as he daydreams of cathartic relief.

 

Contemplating this matter through the perspective of a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) professional practitioner, I wonder about the burdensome expectation placed on the desired individual. Could this person alleviate the protagonist’s suffering in the long-term?

 

What will happen when the male realizes that the individual he mistakenly thought to be perfect is discovered to be as fallible as everyone else in his life? After all, none of us is without blemish – not a single person. What will occur when the light-bringer no longer glows as bright?

 

Even in Christian theology, Lucifer’s name represents “light-bringing,” as one who was once thought of as brilliant couldn’t hold his shiny appearance forever. What will result when the protagonist realizes this fact? Will he metaphorically fling the light-bringer to the Earth?

 

People often self-disturb when using irrational beliefs such as “this person must remain perfect in my eyes” (demandingness), “I couldn’t bear it if this person lost brilliance” (low frustration tolerance), or “this person is worthless when no longer glowing” (global evaluation).

 

Unfavorably, they’ll convince themselves that “it’ll be terrible” (awfulizing) to discover that the person they once thought to have brought light into their lives turned out to be little more than an exceedingly flawed individual. Aren’t we all exceptionally imperfect to a degree?

 

Think of Brandon who in “Two Months Off” is described as “not a very nice guy.” Why must he be anything other than who and what he is? Couldn’t an individual tolerate discovering that Brandon is merely a dull as the rest of us? Or is it the case that Brandon is altogether worthless?

 

Imagine someone determining a similarly “terrible” narrative about you, simply because you shined at times while you were also quite dim during other instances. You bring light in on some days and on others you’re in a “dark place,” as referenced by Hyde.

 

Do you deserve to be ejected from someone’s personal Kingdom of Heaven for failing to meet their rigid standards? Would you even want to dwell among others who held you to such unattainable criteria? Perhaps practice of unconditional acceptance is warranted in these cases.

 

Prior to practicing REBT, I let myself be drawn into the inflexible desires of others while later falling to Earth at lightning speed once my flaws were revealed. Unhelpfully, I self-disturbed about the matter as much as the people who upset themselves before ejecting me from their lives.

 

Now I know better than to fantasize about my perceivably luminescent existence while also inviting people to understand that I don’t bring light in. This admission reminds me of a line from a Rising Appalachia song entitled “An Invasion” (2015).

 

Group member Chloe Smith states in the song, “Who am I but a light cast, a light cast?” When I practiced the Christian faith, I believed that I was a light cast upon the world by Yahweh (God). Long since holding that dogmatic perspective, I now maintain that I’m little more than imperfect.

 

How about you? Do you bring light in? Are you infallible? Do you rigidly demand others to uphold unattainable standard of perfection? As well, do you unhelpfully label people like Brandon as not very nice, and people like Alex as nice? Aren’t they merely fallible humans?

 

Although there are many interpretations of “Two Months Off,” I’ve chosen to highlight how the perceived light of imperfection may not well-serve your interests and goals (unless self-disturbance is your objective). If you’d like to know more about REBT, I’m here to try to help.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters. 

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

References:

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