The song ‘Son’ by Zach Montana has a way of surprising you. It opens gently, with intimate acoustic guitar and restrained vocals producing a personal and almost private mood. The tempo remains constant at the beginning, which allows the lyrics to be stated clearly. Montana sings, ‘Hold my breath and count to three’, a simple phrase that sounds as if a memory is suddenly becoming clear. Afterwards the arrangement develops gradually. The acoustic strums stay at the heart of the song while further layers and vocals are introduced. Eventually, heavier electric guitars take over and drive the song into a broad, theatrical style of rock. The production goes with the emotion rather than maintaining everything in order. The initial section is reflective and fragile, whereas the second part becomes greater and more desperate. It is effective because it corresponds to what Montana sings about. There is a real feeling that something which had been buried is finally breaking through.
It is the lyrics that make the song have such a touching impact. Montana refers to childhood memories such as playing hide-and-seek, going to circus tents, and remembering a time when life appeared more innocent. He then poses some questions: where has that person gone? What has become of them? The lines ‘You are my son / You were my song’ are particularly powerful since they can be understood in more than one way; they might appear to describe someone who is grieving because a child has become distant or lost, but they could just as well be Montana speaking to his younger self in an attempt to recover who he used to be. This ambiguity adds to the emotional depth of the song. The expression ‘All the world has beat you blue’ is impressive because it brings together feelings of protection and pain. Moreover, the repeated part ‘over and over’ becomes more intense as the music increases in volume. Once the electric guitars come in, the song no longer just seems to be about recalling the past; it starts to sound as if someone is desperately trying to reach it.
What I most appreciate in the song “Son” is that it doesn’t make its sadness too obvious. Although grief is there, so are love, regret, confusion, and a little hope as well. Montana provides space for the listeners to add their own memories. This could be the reason why the song has such a strong effect during important life changes or when thinking about one’s childhood, family, or a earlier version of oneself. The shift from a gentle acoustic sound to full rock intensity gives the song a powerful emotional impact without making the opening section seem out of place. Those who like alternative rock, thoughtful singer-songwriter music, and emotionally intense songs will find plenty to identify with. The song has a personal feel without being difficult to understand; it raises painful questions but does not demand easy answers. There are sometimes songs that leave you sitting in silence after they’ve finished, and this is one of those songs.
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