Summary

"CAROspace | Resolution | St Aldates Church" is a collaborative musical piece reflecting on the unexpected journey of two individuals finding connection and freedom in each other's company amidst uncertainty and doubt.

Abstract

The web content presents a profound narrative encapsulated in the song "CAROspace | Resolution | St Aldates Church," which explores the themes of unexpected connections, the struggle with uncertainty, and the courage to embrace genuine relationships. The song is born from a serendipitous meeting between two individuals, Caroline and the narrator, who find a shared sense of belonging and freedom through their mutual experiences in Oxford, England. Despite the challenges and doubts they face, they choose to surrender to the liberating intimacy they discover in each other, a sentiment echoed in the lyrics and the accompanying music video. The narrative emphasizes the beauty of real connections in a world often preoccupied with superficiality and the bravery required to pursue love despite the fear of disappointment. The song serves as a testament to the belief that the most meaningful victories are born from the most daunting struggles, encouraging listeners to take risks for the sake of love and authenticity.

Opinions

The authors believe that life's inconsistencies can lead to meaningful and unexpected connections.
They express that true freedom can be found in the vulnerability of sharing one's story and heart with another person.
The song conveys a sense of irony in how the unexpected can become one's own story, highlighting the transformative power of new experiences.
The narrative suggests that doubts and fears are natural but should not impede the pursuit of genuine relationships.
There is a perceived irony in humanity's desire for intimacy yet fear of being truly known, often leading to a 'dance in masquerade.'
The authors argue that love's extraordinary nature lies in its ordinariness, something everyone needs and wants to give.
They advocate for the courage to fight for real connections in a world that often values artificiality.
The song is presented as a source of strength and encouragement for those facing significant life decisions or similar relational circumstances.

CAROspace | Resolution | St Aldates Church

Where do we go from here

I can’t get it right.

Maybe we just disappear

and run away into the night.

Every moment speaks louder than the last,

Taken by surprise.

How did this come to be?

Captured in familiar moves.

Staring at you is like staring back at me.

I won’t tell lies but I can’t tell truths.

Every moment speaks louder than the last,

Taken by surprise.

Time is waiting on me

But I’m finding it hard not to stop arrest the fight

Time is calling on me

To ring in the resolution

If we just stop for a moment and look to the stars in the sky

Surrender all my hopes and fears, cause I find freedom in your eyes.

Time is waiting on me

But I’m finding it hard not to stop arrest the fight.

Time is calling on me

To ring in the resolution

Time is waiting on me

But I can’t see past these doubts of mine.

Time is calling on me

To ring in the resolution

I find freedom in your eyes.

You’d think by now we wouldn’t be so surprised by the unexpected. Life has a funny way of dropping inconsistencies at times when we least expect them. This song is about the struggle with something unexpected, something new, something disruptive. Caroline and I met under quite unexpected circumstances. Overhearing me say in my American accent “I’ll see you at St. Aldate’s” (the church we both, unknowingly attended) to my study abroad director in Quarterhorse Coffee in Oxford, England, she introduced herself. It seems fitting that, despite an unexpected last minute cancel by Quarterhorse, where we had initially planned this shoot, we filmed at the place we indirectly met: St. Aldate’s Church. At the time we were both new to Oxford and looking for community, connections, and friends. Another run in a few days later, a phone number exchange, and coffee hang outs planned, led to conversation about life, the world, music, God, photography, and ultimately, this co-write.

At the outset, this song was simply an idea, a concept of two struggling humans with the desire to surrender to the freedom they found in each other. The irony in the song was that it became our story. We shared souls and collided with each other’s stories and hearts and found an unexpected sense of freedom and ease in doing so. Everything was stacked against us and we had an extremely difficult time seeing past our doubts but we began to believe it was worth the risk. This song is about choosing to see past your own fears and doubts. I find it ironic that we all are dying to receive and give love but we are deeply afraid of true intimacy. We desire to be known but we are constantly dancing in masquerade. Perhaps our hesitancy is rooted in the fact that we expect love to be extraordinary and don’t want to risk being disappointed. But what if love can only be extraordinary when we realize it really is so ordinary. We all need it and we all want to give it. But it takes courage.

Ultimately, this song is about having the courage to fight for something real in a world that preaches artificiality. This song is about a willingness to embrace an unknown irrespective of how daunting it may be. I think we’ve found that the most daunting battles bring the most beautiful stories of victory. After all you can’t have victory without a struggle. We hope this song speaks to you in some way whether you’re making life decisions that require strength or courage or if you’re in a situation that is similar to our own. We promise it’s worth the risk.

*This story has been written for a wider project called #carospace. Follow Caroline Adele Nikolaus on fb, ig, or twitter to learn more and stay tuned for a music video she is filming in St Aldates Church. #carospace_StAldates