Wars of a Civil Nature

I've spent some time on this blog waxing poetic about how much I love the Civil Wars. I have been told that I have encouraged (possibly badgered) people into checking out their music, stopping short only of downloading it for them myself. I have been known to say aloud that they are my favorite band.

One of the things I've always loved about the idea of the Civil Wars is that their name means so many things. They have a lovely, thoughtful Civil War demeanor about their music and their merchandise, but I've always thought that the heart of the "civil wars" was about relationships. In a marriage, or a friendship or love affair, you're on the same side, so when you disagree or push against each other, the result is a civil war. I have always found this to be a poetic and beautiful concept, and a true one.

Until recently.

The Civil Wars sent me an email a week ago, normally a very welcome thing. This email, however, turned out to be about another kind of civil war.

It took me a moment to register as I read, that Joy and John Paul (yes, we are on a first-name basis) are canceling all of their tour dates because of "internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition." No, they aren't breaking up, at least not now. But they are in the midst of a civil war.

A good friend of mine sent me an email between then and now with the subject: "The Civil Wars are breaking my heart." I called her and we commiserated.

Last night, I dreamt a phone conversation with Joy very clearly. I talked with her about what was going on, got a few things out. It's amazing how cathartic a dream conversation can be.

It isn't just that I'm nervous about the future of the band, or wanting more music, though that is true. Right now, I'm just hoping that this civil war doesn't last forever, end with secession and cause heartbreak. No matter how you look at it, civil wars don't end well.