'Darkest Hour (Helene Edit)' by Eric Church - Lyrics & Meaning

In early October 2024, the mainland of United States of America suffered the most devastating natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Helene has caused a death toll of over 200 lives, with hundreds missing and the houses of nearly a million either entirely uprooted, destroyed or without power.

As the storm was taking place, Eric Church, who was born and raised in Granite Falls, North Carolina, was in the studio recording a new project. In the days previously, he had finished a song called 'Darkest Hour' with his producer, Jay Joyce. To help with relief efforts in Western North Carolina and other affected areas, Church released the song on Friday, October 4, signing off all publishing royalties to the state of North Carolina.

In a statement on social media, Church wrote; "This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully 'Darkest Hour' will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come". Church concluded; "The song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever".

Arriving under the enchanting spell of piercing violins and orchestral swells, Church immediately conducts his group into a rich, soulful number that swells with emotion from Jay Joyce's production. The loose, gentle pace and softness of the percussion is reminiscent of a stadium-size song Phil Collins or the Bee Gees would've released in the 70s and 80s, particularly when you recognise the atmospheric synth keys that bloom under Church's finger-picked acoustic.

The sudden yet tender parp of brass is like a warm hug in a storm - surprising and oh so comforting. While there's so many different instruments and voices peppered throughout the song in different places, it all comes together in wonderful synchronicity, not a single sound feeling out of place amongst Church's sleek, expressive vocal performance.

One of Church and Joyce's most experimental and beautiful pieces, 'Darkest Hour' is subtle, humble and triumphant.

A poignant and emotional song that glistens with hope and determination, 'Darkest Hour' finds Church steadfast and direct in his delivery, set on offering a kind hand to anyone in need of help.

"If you are down in a gutter, with a homeless shirt tryna shake of the snow
If your tide was low, you lost your rutter
I’d show you where to go, if you were stuck out on the burning sand
Heavy fire and a blinding gaze, i’d throw down a rope and pull you out of your head"

There's a universality to Church's lyrics that recognise both tangible, physical fear and distress and the level of anguish one can feel when feeling mentally weary.

Much like the classic standard 'I'll Be There', the narrator envisions the catastrophes we can be placed in in our darkest moments, ensuring they know that, no matter the problem, they'll be there for them.

In your darkest hour, baby i’d come runnin’
In your darkest hour, i’d light your way
Baby don't give up, i’d do anything in my power to take another minute off your darkest hour

Consoling and unwavering, the narrator drops everything to comfort and help those in need, begging them not give up and that they'll endeavour to ensure they are safe and in a better place. Church sings with an assured yet soft tone here for the chorus, easing our burden. While he can't take away the pain that's already been caused, he can help ensure it's not felt any longer.

Life can be a labyrinth, a maze of moments, a pyramid of plans
When all goes south, i’ll be your compass
Til’ your needle spins you north again

Church recognises that the lives we lead are filled with trials, tribulations and expectations not met. When life starts heading that direction, he'll show you how to get back on your path to being content and having a sense of fulfilment.

All I really know is I nevеr know what’s comin’ around the wind
But you should know you’re not alone, hey wanna hold my hand?

In his classic cool form, Church offers out a hand - relieving the pain and supporting us through onto our next journey. As he notions, we truly never know what's going to happen to us next, but at least we're not by ourselves in feeling that, a truly universal feeling.

In a video statement posted across his social media channels on Thursday, October 3, 2024, Church said; "As you know, I spend half my year in the mountains of North Carolina. It's a refuge for me; a place where i've always said my soul is at rest".

"Hurricane Helene came through and it devastated. There are places that are just biblically gone in Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, also South Carolina, Georgia, Florida but specifically my area in Western North Carolina, in those mountains there - there are still people we haven't found".

"I was in the studio, working on a project for next year, and I had a song that I had just finished that just fit the moment, it fit right now. I felt helpless, I was trying to figure out what can we could do, how can we help. We've been doing a lot of organisational stuff to get supplies to people there, but I wanted to do more, specifically with awareness".

"So, this song is called 'Darkest Hour', and I'm giving this song to North Carolina, to the people of North Carolina. I'm signing the publishing away, it will no longer be mine, it will belong to the people of the state of North Carolina".

"Hopefully the proceeds will matter now, but also matter in the future. Also, I want everyone to go to chiefcares.com too, and raise as much money as we can to be distributed not only in Western North Carolina, but East Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. There are a lot of people there that are in their darkest hour, and they need us to come running. I intend to do that".

To find out more, donate and help towards the Hurricane Helene Relief Chief Cares fund, head here.

(Verse 1)

If you are down in a gutter, with a homeless shirt tryna shake of the snow
If your tide was low, you lost your rutter
I’d show you where to go, if you were stuck out on the burning sand
Heavy fire and a blinding gaze, i’d throw down a rope and pull you out of your head

(Chorus)

In your darkest hour, baby i’d come runnin’
In your darkest hour, i’d light your way
Baby don't give up, i’d do anything in my power to take another minute off your darkest hour

(Verse 2)

Life can be a labyrinth, a maze of moments, a pyramid of plans
When all goes south, i’ll be your compass
Til’ your needle spins you north again

(Chorus)

In your darkest hour, baby i’d come runnin’
In your darkest hour, i’d light your way
Baby don't give up, i’d do anything in my power to take another minutе off your darkest hour

(Bridge)
All I really know is I nevеr know what’s comin’ around the wind
But you should know you’re not alone, hey wanna hold my hand?

(Chorus)
In your darkest hour, baby i’d come runnin’
In your darkest hour, i’d light your way
Baby don't give up, i’d do anything in my power to take another minute off your darkest hour

(Outro)
Baby i’d come runnin’ (don’t give up)
Yeah I’d light your way (don’t give up, ah don’t give up)
Baby i’d come runnin’ (don’t give up)
Baby i’d come runnin’ (don’t give up, yeah don’t give up)
Light your way baby, (i’d come runnin’)

--

For more on Eric Church, see below: