R.I.P Bon

Prologue

The following story is based off the song "R.I.P Bon" written by The Amity Affliction, taken from their album "Chasing Ghosts", released in 2012. I do not in any way claim to have written the lyrics or song, and acknowledge that all copyright entitlements belong to the band. Both the song lyrics and meaning can be found below, both of which I recommend to be read before the story itself. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

R.I.P Bon - The Amity Affliction

I was waiting for you man
Right down there by the sea
Where we used to meet
To share in our pain and decry misery

I waited, I waited, I waited I swear
But when I got down to the ocean man
You were not fucking there

I just wish that you spoke up and held out your hand
Because you know I was there man you know that I cared

I waited for you but you never came
No you never came
And now that you're gone I feel I'm to blame
Yeah I feel I'm to blame

I wanted to hear it, I wanted to know
I've been grieving so much with each passing day
But I'm angry and hurt and I hate you all the same

I just wish that you spoke up and held out your hand
Because you know I was there man you know that I cared

I waited for you but you never came
No you never came
And now that you're gone I feel I'm to blame
Yeah I feel I'm to blame

I know now you hated life even more with each breath
I know now that you did not have any fight left

To know you were grieving with each passing day
I know you were grieving with each passing day
And to know most of all you did not want to stay
And I know most of all you did not want to stay
And you know you were grieving with each passing day

I waited for you but you never came
No you never came
And now that you're gone I feel I'm to blame
Yeah I feel I'm to blame

Did I never listen, did I never show
Did I never show cause I wanted to hear
I wanted to hear it, I wanted to know
I wanted to know

“This song I wrote to try and give voice to all the people left behind when a close friend takes their life. The thing that people need to realise when they’re contemplating suicide is that there are many, many devastating repercussions to their actions, it’s not just an ‘easy way out’ as some people may see it. I also think that the people left behind need a voice just like the people who have passed on. In this song the words are written from a friend, to a friend that has passed on, expressing their deep sense of guilt at not being able to prevent it, all the way through to their anger that their friend didn’t have the strength to actually lean on them in their time of need. I really feel that’s something that is happening all too often when it comes to depression, and although it’s extremely hard, people need to open up to their friends as much as possible to avoid taking that final, terrible step towards death.”
- Joel Birch