Why Dear Wormwood is one of my favourite albums and how it made me fall head over heels for The Oh Hellos.
The Oh Hellos are a Texan based duo of siblings Maggie and Tyler Heath, Dear Wormwood is their second full length studio album and was released in 2015. You’ve may have heard of The Oh Hellos through their most popular song ‘Soldier, Poet, King’ which gained traction on social media in 2023.
Dear Wormwood took inspiration from C.S Lewis’ book ‘The Screwtape Letters’ where a demon advises his nephew ‘Wormwood’ on how to best tempt a young man to be a wrongdoer. The album itself takes on this concept by changing who is writing these letters, so a misled person is writing letters to a younger affiliated person. Of course there are other literary influences such as Patrick Rothfuss’ ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’, which is one of the many reasons I love this album. Despite being about a very unhealthy or abusive relationship, Tyler has stated that he wants the album to ” leave the listener feeling uplifted” and Dear Wormwood definitely masters that.
1. Prelude
The Prelude’s vocals echo that of their previous album ‘Through the Deep, Dark Valley’ this acts to acknowledge that some of themes from the album are still alive in Dear Wormwood but also bids a sweet goodbye to it, as this album differs in various ways.
2. Bitter Water
Bitter Water, to me, is about the person’s realisation that the relationship is not healthy, but they cannot seem to drag themselves away from it, despite the hurt that it’s causing them. This relationship will never fulfill the ‘recipient’ of the letters and will only cause them further harm, hence why the water is ‘bitter’. Furthermore, bitter water was a test commonly used to assess a wife who stands accused of adultery, so that partner could be staying despite the their infidelity. “I know I shouldn’t love you, but I do”
3. There Beneath
This is a song of realisation where the speaker gains the knowledge they need to change “there beneath the willow tree I learned a lot about the way of things”, the willow tree could be a reference to the Cthaeth which is an all knowing tree in The Kingkiller Chronicles. Throughout the song, the speaker is able to see things with a new level of understanding, as they wait for the dawn of a new day.
4. In The Blue Hours of Morning
This calming instrumental interlude signals that the dawn has arrived and represents a turning point in the album, the speaker recognises their need to leave such a damaging relationship.
5. Exeunt
Exeunt is a stage direction that indicates a character leaving the scene and here encapsulates the speaker’s determination to not be lured back into the unhealthy relationship, despite their love still persevering. “I have set my mind and my will, I am leaving” One of the reasons I love this song is how much energy it has to it, the explosion of sheer determination is definitely expressed in the enthusiastic music.
6. Caesar
The song depicts the crowning and welcoming of Jesus and the wisdom he will bring, the death and sin that plagues the speaker will once again be defeated. Caesar also suggests a form of journey where they have to follow the star in the sky of Bethlehem to find religion again. “Look to the sky where the sign will be” The ending of this song makes my heart happy, the incredible vocals alongside the electric guitar is the perfect combination.
7. This Will End
This Will End is pervaded by the self reflective thoughts of the speaker, wondering whether the afterlife will be worth it for all the suffering they faced on Earth. Moreover, the song speaks of hope, that the hurt their facing will not be everlasting and they shall find peace in death. “I will wait for this to end”. The overlapping vocals that characterise This Will End fill me with such joy.
8. Pale White Horse
The titular horse could be a representation of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse: Death. Despite all the speaker has faced, when Death comes upon they fear their own fate, but come to accept that death is inevitable. “And I knew it was my time”
9. Where Is Your Rider
Acts a follow up song to Pale White Horse with a much more joyous tone because Death/Satan has been defeated and the horse is riderless. The oppression humanity has faced is over because Death no longer wields power. “The shadow of Hades is fading For he has cast down Leviathan, the tyrant, and the horse and rider” The looming shadow of death has been extinguished once and for all.
10. Soldier, Poet, King
Certainly the most reknown song of Dear Wormwood and I think the song is meant to encapsulate the forms in which Jesus makes a return. As a “soldier who carries a mighty sword” to throw down the armies of evil, as a “poet whose weapon is his word” with the intention of bringing back religion through his teachings, and as a “ruler whose brow is laid in thorn” who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the Earth.
11. Dear Wormwood
This song speaks to me of courage as the protagonist confronts the demon that has been instructing them through their life. Critiquing the beliefs that have been forced upon them, making them lose the innocence of their childhood. A song of bravery as the speaker cries out to the demon and rejects them “I know who you are now And I name you my enemy”. The triumphant music as they are named the enemy reflects a long battle being won, realising they can be more without the influence of the demon.
12. Danse Macabre
This is the only song not originally by The Oh Hellos on the album, the first version is by composer Camille Saint-Saens. This represents the complexity of having to move on from stages in your life and allows the speaker a brief interlude to reflect on their journey. The cover brings new life to the song and gives it a more merry tone.
13. Thus Always To Tyrants
The pace of this song is much more rapid compared to the rest of the album, symbolising how the protagonist has been able to start living again and know happiness again. Self-reflective thoughts are still shared with the speaker expressing hope that their demon will have the same reform they experienced and recover from their wrongdoing. “Learn to love without consuming”
An Overall View
What an album! The joy brought to me by The Oh Hellos is unmatched, even when talking about the most devastating of themes, the music of the songs remain enthusiastic and high-energy. Dear Wormwood flows so beautifully from one song to the next. Listening to this album is always a pleasure 🙂
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