19), was panned by critics for sounding “ pandering,” “ gloomy” and altogether self-absorbed (in Pitchfork’s terms, a perpetuation of “victimhood”). Not to mention this most important line from the end of the song: “Don’t forget to love / before you’re gone.”Ĭome Around Sundown, the band’s fifth studio album which turned 10 yesterday (Oct. But when taking into account that its message is one of self-discovery and joy to young children with their whole lives ahead of them, it may be one of the best choruses Followill has ever written.

“Find out what you are / Face to face.” It’s a blaring alt-rock track that at worst, may sound falsely hopeful. “Spill out on streets of stars / And ride away,” he urges during the chorus. Life is short, and in order to fully relish all its possibilities, we’re bound to spend time grasping wildly at experiences before deciphering the most important among them.įollowill wrote the song for his and wife Lily Aldridge’s future children, Dixie Pearl and Winston Roy. Frontman and principal songwriter Caleb Followill is actually singing about the opposite of immortality on this triumphant Come Around Sundown cut. On their 2010 song “The Immortals,” Kings of Leon aren’t referring to vampires or some other variety of death defiers.

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