Deconstructing Year Four: The Paradise Syndrome

This is by far the most depressing episode of Star Trek. EVER. Don’t even try to tell me about City on the Edge of Forever. Edith Keeler’s got nothing on this heart-wrenching tale of disconsolate sadness and devastating loss.

It’s a simple story really— Kirk loses his memory and joins a tribe of natives. There he becomes a member of the tribe, meets the love of his life, and gets married— I believe “joined” was the local colloquialism. Kirk loves everything about his new life. It’s the life he always wanted: free of the burdens and responsibilities of his other “forgotten” career-driven existence. KirokSoon, his beloved is expecting their child, and Kirk is exultant. Let that sink in for a moment. Kirk is going to have a child! She’s pregnant with Kirk’s kid! Now this would be paradise for Kirk, if it weren’t for these pesky, nagging “dreams” about a strange lodge that moves through the sky and the prophecy that Kirk is to save their world (which he does).

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To make a long story short, there are a series of unfortunate misunderstandings that lead to Kirk getting his memory back and his pregnant wife being stoned to near death. Then in a harrowing closing scene, after a final kiss, the love of his life dies in his arms. And oh yeah, don’t forget— SO DOES THE UNBORN BABY!

And that’s it. No pensive, reflective scene back on the enterprise. No chuckling joke at Spock’s expense. Just: Dead wife. Dead baby. Roll credits.

I originally wrote this song to be a wistful and melancholic alt-country number. The lyrics are certainly sad and sweet. The demo sounded like dry fingers against a cracked, wooden acoustic. I had all intentions of it showing up that way on the album. I didn’t expect drums or any other instrumentation. It was going to be like Whiskeytown’s “Factory Girl”. When you finally hear it on the album, you will see that did not happen. I do like to keep an open mind to experimentation with songs, and I love to have alternate versions of songs in my pocket as well. So one night, we were playing around with this song a bit at practice to see what might come of a different style. Quickly enough we all locked into a groove, and it soon became what it is now on the album. And I couldn’t be happier.

I’m sure some version of the original demo will wind up on our alternate-takes EP.

This song has one of those moments that doesn’t occur all that often in a 5YM song; when we just allow for an extended musical break. No singing, no voices, just letting the music build to a crescendo ending. I hope the fans enjoy it as much as I do.

Fun Fact: Mike and PJ each showcase their own individual guitar solo on this song.

 

Five Year Mission
Year Four
The Paradise Syndrome
Written by Noah Butler

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