JUNE 20
THE QUIET GOODBYE IN "BETWEEN THE MINDS"
BY LUNA CARDOSO
Richard Becker's, Between The Minds, is a hauntingly tender farewell—an emotional parting letter wrapped in poetic stillness. As the final single before his debut album Cedar Folks, the track explores the quiet unraveling of love and the difficult grace of letting go. The title itself, Between the Minds, suggests a duality of thoughts and emotions, a theme intricately woven through the lyrics. It explores the emotional terrain of love's end, where even the deepest feelings aren't always enough to hold something together.
From the very first lines, the lyrics draw listeners into a liminal space between presence and absence. Lines like "And you're still half of sunlight / Too scared to confide your eyes" capture the heart of a relationship still glowing with traces of warmth but dimmed by unspoken truths. The repeated imagery of "Something's in the water / It's eating at your mind," acts as a metaphor for emotional erosion, an invisible current that separates two hearts. The song takes the listeners on an emotional journey, from the warmth of fading love to the realisation that it will inevitably end.
Becker's lyrical vulnerability is at the forefront as he unpacks the sorrow of surrendering a bond that once felt unshakable. "Take the road before you / As lovers in disguise" speaks to a love redefined, wrapped in the traces of what once was. There is also a tension between pain and reverence, with lines like "The way you love is so peculiar" giving way to "Oh mama, your love is kind" and "How come your love is wise." This isn't a breakup drenched in bitterness but rather a goodbye laced with respect, empathy and the bittersweet understanding that love alone can't always keep two people together.
At its core, Between the Minds is based on a self-soothing mantra: "Just know that I'll be alright." These words—repeated softly at first, then with growing conviction—become an act of reclamation. It's a reminder that healing doesn't always come with clarity but with the decision to move forward anyway.
And, as Becker says, "Why is it the hardest thing in life to learn how to let go? To learn how to be okay with letting the people you love be free. And to learn to trust that through it all, you will be alright." These words form the emotional crux of Between the Minds, which is more than simply a song; it is a revolution in learning how to love and let go without losing yourself in the process.
Musically the track reflects Becker's signature indie folk style—intimate, atmospheric, and emotionally spacious. Drawing inspirations from artists like Bon Iver and City and Colour, Becker's music is characterised by its raw emotional depth and introspective lyricism. Between the Minds is a perfect example of this, with its soft, acoustic sound and hauntingly beautiful melodies that mirror the lyricism.
Between the Minds is for anyone who has stood on the edge of goodbye, still full of love but ready to choose themselves. It is about the paradox of letting go of someone you still care for and having the courage to say, "Just know that I'll be alright."
