Are Actions Louder Than Words?

Are+Actions+Louder+Than+Words%3F

Morgan Bluma

Just watched the newer film, Call Me By Your Name, and I have fallen in love with the soundtrack. If you haven‰’t seen it yet, stop reading this and go watch it right now and then come back.

The song that really stuck out to me and basically slapped me in the face with such strong emotions was this one by Sufjan Stevens. I almost want to believe that this song was written for the film, but I know it was not. The lyrics fit in with the plot so well. Right away, the opening two lines basically describe the main character in the film and the emotions he is experiencing with his sexuality. Stevens say states, “It‰’s been a long, long time/ Since I‰’ve memorized your face‰” and it makes me feel that the persona has been resisting the urge to look or think about this individual‰’s face. Eventually, as the song ends, the persona allows himself to gaze upon them and comes to terms with what they are feeling. The song also sings about the need of feeling comfort and security in the presence of individuals important to us. The song also touches on this rational in our minds that avoiding someone is better than coming to terms with how we truly feel. Sure, it‰’s easier to avoid and try to forget but it will forever nag at us in our minds. The line that really hit me in my chest was “and words are futile devices‰” as the persona of this song states earlier that they would say I love you but it‰’s just too hard. This makes me think to that clichÌ© everyone hears about actions being louder than words or silence being deafening.

I am always so torn with these clichÌ©s as there is some truth to them yet I don‰’t always agree. If saying I love you to someone we have feelings towards is difficult, doesn‰’t mean we should assume that our actions clearly show our feelings. But yet, it is one thing to say something and then your actions completely go against what you just stated. That‰’s where I see the clichÌ© more. Yet, sometimes we assume that someone we know has the same mind set as us and understands our ever move. This isn‰’t true because even the closest people in our lives, can still surprise us with what they do. So, I go back and forth with this saying. I just can’t make up my mind on how I feel about it or which is better to do. This song is so incredibly simple and relatively short, yet, expresses so much emotion and depth to it.

This is the type of song to have on loop and never get sick of. It‰’s great to just sit back and let the lyrics wash over you and drive you into your deepest thoughts and emotions. Hopefully everyone goes and listens to this incredible soundtrack now. Have a lovely day my little hippies.