The Burren

Ben Howard's song 'The Burren' is a poetic exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The title itself refers to a region in Ireland known for its rugged, rocky landscape, which serves as a metaphorical backdrop for the song's themes. The opening lines, 'Your carnation revolution was buried / In these rock pools and I’m grateful,' suggest a sense of gratitude for the past, even if it was tumultuous. The 'carnation revolution' could symbolize a personal or collective upheaval that has since settled, much like the stillness of rock pools after a storm.

The recurring imagery of walking onto 'the burren frothy from the wind' evokes a sense of returning to a place filled with memories and emotions. The phrase 'full of yesteryear’s sorrow, bad dreams within' indicates that this place is not just a physical location but a repository of past experiences, both good and bad. The repetition of 'We were children again' underscores a longing for innocence and a simpler time, suggesting that revisiting these memories allows the narrator to reconnect with a part of themselves that has been lost.

The lines 'Blind, can’t you see I am letting go / I take with me what you left unburned' speak to the process of moving on while still carrying remnants of the past. The act of 'letting go' is not complete; there are still unburned pieces that the narrator holds onto. The song's conclusion, 'Oh I come here to borrow time / Oh I come here to start a fight,' encapsulates the dual nature of this journey. It is both a temporary escape and a confrontation with unresolved issues. Through its evocative lyrics and haunting melody, 'The Burren' captures the complex interplay between memory, loss, and the enduring impact of the past on the present.