song

My first song is “The Cave” by Mumford and Sons. At first glance Jim seems cruel and ignorant but there is another aspect of him that I believe is more important that is illustrated in this song. This song makes me think of Jim’s personal struggle to provide for his family.

The opening line talks about having an empty heart and walking away from “fear and faults you’ve left behind”. This relates to Jim accepting his failure at success and repetitively packing up and moving his family in search of better opportunities. Jim will work as hard as he can for his family but then realizes his efforts are not showing any signs of benefiting them. So he will promise them a better future somewhere else and leave his failure, or “fear and faults”, behind to start new somewhere else. The next line talks about having no food to eat. This is a major problem for the Holbrookes throughout the entire book. They are always hungry and never have enough food to eat. “I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat” relates to the shame the family feels about not being able to overcome their constant setbacks. The next line fits greatly with the book “But I will hold on hope And I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck”. This makes me think of Jim always grasping and searching for ways he can provide a life for his family they deserve. He doesn’t just give up but holds onto the hope for them never allowing them to “choke”. The noose around your neck signifies that there is no way out and it’s just hopeless. Despite any efforts to keep someone from choking with a noose around their neck you know that in the end they will choke.  Like the song, Jim finds strength in pain and changes his ways numerous times. He doesn’t accept his circumstances but he takes his defeats and turns them into motivation to try harder. Jim was an abusive alcoholic to begin with, but when he needed to change his ways he became a better husband and father.