FAWM: "Destiny in Black (Falling Down)"

Destiny in Black (Falling Down)

Liner Notes

Another dark one. Honest, I am a pretty happy guy! Wrote these lyrics yesterday then music today. Did basic production but too tired to check it on speakers, in the truck, etc. Maybe best with headphones for now!

#rock #Americana #dark

Lyrics

Destiny in Black (Falling Down)
February 23, 2025
https://johnstaplesmusic.com/FAWM2025/JohnStaples-DestinyInBlack-FallingDown.mp3

black and white seasons
in sun and in rain
reaching for sky
drowning in pain

different reasons
to stand in the flame
torment or ecstasy
rapture or shame

falling down
crawling back
climbing walls
going mad
falling down
can't come back
destiny in black
destiny in black

grueling
malfeasance
and no one to blame
black glitter downpour
wrapped in disdain

falling down
crawling back
climbing walls
going mad
falling down
can't come back
destiny in black
destiny in black

trapped inside a tortured mind
deaf and blind
no reason
no rhyme
too much to do
so little time

feels like dying on the vine
doing five to nine
no hope
no life
nothing to do
way too much time

falling down
crawling back
climbing walls
going mad
falling down
can't come back
destiny in black
destiny in black
destiny in black
destiny in black

© 2025 John Staples
JohnStaplesMusic.com

Comments

@karlsburg25 3h

Wow what a way to get back to my listening cycle. Ha ha , john i reckon its because you're such a deep soul that you can produce dark songs but which somehow musically evelate one's soul inside on listening. The chorus for this has a classic rememebred for good feel to it.
I can honestly imagine festival mosh pitting to this with the whole crowd screaming "destiny in black" together. awesome stuff

@celineellis 5h

The 3 syllable chorus lines are superb. Punchy and to the point. You say this dark, and the topic of the lyrics is, but the over all feel isn’t at all. The melody has an edge of hope, the singability is strong and its a great song.

@billwhite51 6h

the paradox is that a person as sad as the protagonist of this song could not have written such a song. it takes a happy man to sing a sad song. depressed people arent about to get up the energy and enthusiasm to put together something like this. or to play such a cool guitar solo. the hope is that sad people will find some sort of comfort in hearing a song that speaks to them..as opposed to some bouncy, happy thing that makes them feel even more alienated.

@grayland 7h

Dark or not I LOVE this song!!! The melody is awesome and sneaks into your head before you realize it!! Perfect mix of instruments and beat. And actually I don't find the lyrics all that dark...more like momentary desperation, the kind everyone feels at some point..like the world's coming down on you and you can't see the light.. I've been there...I think most of us have.. So relatable...damn!!! I loved the chorus cadence and the "Destiny in Black" repeat... My favorite line is "grueling malfeasance"! How'd ya work that so sweetly into the lyric??!! I think my favorite section is the bridge. I love the guitar lead breaks and the outro...perfectly done. Love the way you repeat "destiny in black" for the vocal outro. Awesome John Staples vocals as usual...what a voice!!! What a song!! You're rockin the charts dude!!

@sbs 8h

Was scrolling through FAWM on iphone but when I saw the part about headphones recommended (my preferred listen), I had to go to my studio and give it a listen with headphones. Super cool guitar/vocal delivery - perfect for the lyrics. So clever. And I've found that when it comes to music - what you listen to and write has little to do with who you are as a person. I'm an upbeat person but have always loved the blues and dark, moody music. This may be my favorite of yours this season! Excellent!

@texmachine_mk2021 10h

Great build into the chorus. Love the guitar work. Catchy melody, too.

@jibbidy34 13h

Falling/crawling/climbing - there’s lots of movement in your chorus. This is almost a depression anthem but there’s so much hope in your voice and music. My fav verse was ‘dying on the vine/five to nine. Good work John!

@eamarant 14h

“Falling down/ Crawling back” sounds so good together and will be stuck in my head for a while.

@dhiatt 17h

I'm the same way; my songs are (mostly) super depressing, but that's not who I am, I don't think. Great, vibrant sound here. The way you break up the rhythm of the verse is great. The chorus sounds a little too similar (texturally, rhythmically) to the verse to my ears. The bridge is a nice changeup.

@paul_pedersen 18h

I listen to everything on headphone, so, happy to oblige. I like the darkness of this. Not everything can (or should be) lollipops and roses. I really like the structure of the chorus where almost every line consists of two words. Nice guitar extro.