“Always an angel, never a god.” The chant in this song speaks to how we are born insatiable. Bound in the finite, we yearn for the infinite, howling against the limits of our minds and bodies. We build towers, write symphonies, launch spacecraft, break records, develop technologies to extend our lifespans. We craft myths to reach beyond the celestial ceiling we are forever butting up against, towards immortality. But ironically, it may be that sinking into a deep sense of connection to the great parade of humanity, in all its grandeur and sorrow, its yearning, is an antidote to despair.

boygenius, “Not Strong Enough,” written by Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus & Phoebe Bridgers, 2023.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to summer, 2025.

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