A Case Of You

James Blake's rendition of 'A Case Of You,' originally by Joni Mitchell, is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of love's complexities. The song opens with a poignant dialogue, where the lover claims to be as constant as the northern star, a symbol of unwavering presence. However, the narrator counters this by highlighting the darkness that constancy can bring, suggesting that true love is not about being unchanging but about being present and real, even in the most mundane places like a bar.

The imagery of drawing a map of Canada with the lover's face sketched on it twice signifies the deep emotional connection and the omnipresence of the lover in the narrator's life. The metaphor of the lover being in the narrator's blood like holy wine captures the duality of love—its ability to be both bitter and sweet. This duality is further emphasized by the repeated assertion that even after consuming a 'case' of this love, the narrator would still be standing, indicating resilience and the enduring nature of their feelings.

The song also delves into the narrator's identity as a 'lonely painter' living in a 'box of paints,' symbolizing a life filled with creativity yet marked by isolation. The fear of the devil and attraction to those unafraid of it reflect the narrator's internal struggles and the allure of fearless love. The advice from a woman who knows the lover's life to 'be prepared to bleed' underscores the inevitable pain that comes with deep emotional connections. Despite this, the narrator's love remains steadfast, encapsulated in the final lines where the lover is described as both bitter and sweet, yet still worth every drop.