It is often said that grief is a testament to love and proof that life once bloomed. More often than not, it is an emotion the human mind knows too well. Piercingly hurtful, debilitating, and laced with a sense of hope that the lost one is alive somewhere in another universe. It comes with a unique pain, continuously reminding the heart of what once was, what will never be no matter how much the soul pines. But in the actual sense of it, the hardest struggle lies in the search for what could have been; constantly yearning, when really, it is the hope that kills. In “See You Again,” Edenojie depicts a brilliant picture of the aftermath of losing a loved one. He sings about the burning desire to reunite with them again, expressing this through the different attributes of grief.
Fear is a common trait that accompanies loss. The realization of knowing a body you’ve been accustomed to has now become lifeless, nothing but skeleton and flesh wilting away, sometimes into unrecognizable decomposition is powerful enough to spark a terrific, unsettling feeling within the mind and is exactly what Edenojie expresses in the opening lines of “See You Again.” All of a sudden I’m scared of the silence of the night, he declares, following a thirst for escapism away from the newfound reality. I’d rather be where the drunks are pouring till it’s bright. Don’t wanna even hear your name” But it’s never an easy option to live with permanently. Yes for one, escapism is euphoric and can temporarily lift the mind off its misery for as long as the intoxication lasts, but what happens after the high wears off and the soul returns to its roots and time begins to fade, and it becomes harder to move on? Edenojie calls this stagnation guilt: is it just me or the colors have faded to grey and white, and I feel guilty whenever you watch me crack a smile?
If one successfully overcomes this stage, acceptance becomes easier. Only that it relies heavily on imagination. Edenojie daydreams—I know say you dey sing with angels. I dey wish say you dey sing with me—and perfects it with hankering for more in an afterlife where they reunite —This life e get as a be o but I know one day I go see you again.
Edenojie’s lyrics are relatable, vividly showcasing the weight of loss, but even more important is how intricately soulful his voice is to the point of perfection that it feels like he is sitting beside you and reassuring you that you are not alone on grief’s battleground.
