O.R.T.

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn's song 'O.R.T.' is a haunting exploration of grief, loss, and the lingering impact of a father's actions on his child. The lyrics are a poignant dialogue between the narrator and their deceased father, filled with questions that reflect a deep sense of abandonment and confusion. The opening lines, 'Is it lonely where you are... In there... Dad?' immediately set a somber tone, suggesting a yearning for connection and understanding from beyond the grave. The mention of 'darkness' and 'Mom' further emphasizes the isolation and the fractured family dynamics that the narrator is grappling with.

The song delves into the emotional turmoil experienced by the narrator, as seen in lines like 'Burning eyes can't forgive you' and 'Howling moon drives on.' These metaphors convey a sense of relentless pain and anger, as well as the cyclical nature of their suffering. The phrase 'Your illusion, what you see in me' hints at the narrator's struggle with their identity and the shadow cast by their father's actions. This internal conflict is further highlighted by the recurring theme of dreams and the elusive nature of hope, as expressed in 'Did you have that dream again? Release... Breathe...'

'O.R.T.' also touches on the concept of unresolved trauma and the search for closure. The lyrics 'Maybe there on the edge is your hope, but you don't look down' suggest a glimmer of hope that remains just out of reach, while 'Emptiness, dead eyes and lost what you found' paints a bleak picture of the narrator's emotional state. The song's conclusion, 'Maybe something has a hold of me, like...' leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity and unresolved tension, mirroring the narrator's ongoing struggle to make sense of their past and find peace.