"Everglow" is the main song that inspired the concept of the album, Everglow.  This song in particular probably took about 20 minutes to write in total, including most of the lyrics.  I was inspired to reflect on an old idea I had written about years before in college about two lovers that are involved in car wreck.  In the former song, it was uplifting and sung from the perspectives of both guy and girl, who both end up fine in the end. For "Everglow," I focused only on the guy's view of the events, mainly after the crash had occurred. There are many references to what it was like waking up after, and seeing your girl beside you, and what happens after.  

Everglow, itself is the literal representation of the girl in the car crash.  I wanted it to be ambiguous at first, but then I decided that it would be a person and not a place or thing. The first line of the song is especially my favorite, "Death will return us to ourselves," because it shows the cycle and duality of life and death that is life. You should cherish life, but never forget that we ultimately return to each other in death.  One thing I also noticed upon completion of recording is how "Everglow" seems to build throughout the whole song. It starts off slow, with lower melodies in my vocal range, but ends up with higher harmonies that I was barely able to do. 

The overall theme of the song is dark, melancholy, yet bright and happy in the major sound of the guitar chords I used. I find the antithesis of this to be extremely important to the meaning of the song. It offers a ray of hope when all is dark, and a warm feeling even when the lyrics say otherwise.  I am especially proud to say that it has been my favorite song because of the endearing feelings I get when I play it. 

Since I wrote "Everglow," it has become something far more than just a song to me.  It reminds me of a student who I had taught years ago, whose life was lost due to suicide.  She had a very real and emotional reaction to the song, and it honestly bothers me to this day, that she could've had those thoughts when she first listened to my song. Another thought that often gets to me is when I heard about one of my friend's backseat passengers, who happened to be boyfriend and girlfriend, were in his car when they were struck by a drunk driver and killed.  It was about two years after I had written "Everglow," but in my mind it was as if the song was all too real. These memories constantly go through my head, when I play the song and lead me to the third track on the record, "Falling Into A Coma." 

-Matt