This morning, when I checked the BBM status’ of my loved ones, Jared had the lyrics to Linkin Park‘s “Skin to Bone” as his status. I did not realize that it was a song’s lyrics and wondered about the weird status. Normally his status says something like “I love my beautiful Jelly Tot” or “Kirsten, my one and only”
After school, while we were waiting for Jon-Daniel to finish cricket practice, he asked me whether I had heard the song, “Skin to Bone”, before. Obviously I hadn’t but even if I had, I doubt if I would have been able to distinguish the words from the loud musical arrangement….I am not the greatest Linkin Park fan in the world!
He spoke about the lyrics and I asked him whether the song reminded him of his Mom. He said “I suppose so. When I first heard the words I thought of Mom”
Back home I downloaded the lyrics.
Linkin Park — Skin To Bone Skin to bone, steel to rust Ash to ashes dust to dust Let tomorrow have it’s way With the promises we made Skin to Bone, steel to rust. Ash to ashes, dust to dust Your deception, my disgust When your name is finally drawn, I’ll be happy that you’re gone Ash to ashes, dust to dust. Chorus: (Aaah) Ash to ashes, dust to dust (Aaah) Skin to bone and steel to rust Right to left, left to right Night to day and day to night As the starlight fades to grey, I’ll be marching far away Right to left and left to right Chorus: (Aaah) Ash to ashes, dust to dust (Aaah) Skin to bone and steel to rust Let tomorrow have it’s way With the promises betrayed Skin to bone and steel to rust (x3) Lyricsfreak.com © 2009“Skin to bone“, represents her frail body to him. “Steel to steel” her steely hold on life! Her refusal to give up. “Ashes to ash, dust to dust”….. the inevitable
“The promises we made” I would imagine the promise that he envisages is the unspoken promise that a parent makes at the conception of the child….. to love and hold the child – until death do them part… The promise is not supposed to end in his early teens.
“Your deception, my disgust…..” relates to his feelings of betrayal. In a way he perceives his Mom’s ill health as a betrayal. His Mom is not supposed to be this ill and suffer the way she does. Vic was supposed to be a healthy Mom. Their lives were supposed to be “normal.” “My disgust” …. the despair of his life…..Anger for his mother’s suffering! Disgust with the medical system failing her. Anger for the OI gene. He is unable to understand all the “why’s”.
“When your name is finally drawn, I’ll be happy that you’re gone Ash to ashes, dust to dust.”Jared absolutely adores his mother. He often says “Oumie, I don’t want Mommy to die.” I have however seen the sheer helplessness in his eyes when he sees her suffering the way she does. I know that Jared too longs for his mother to be at peace, without pain – Her spirit freed from her frail, pain wretched body. So my precious grandson joins the song and broken hearted sings along with Linkin Park
“I’ll be happy that you’re gone. Ash to ashes, dust to dust….”
Vic's Final Journey 