Passenger’s latest single ‘A Song For The Drunk And Broken Hearted’ oddly manages to invite hope and companionship despite its exploration of grief. Passenger is a complete expert at tugging at heartstrings through his soulful, melancholic, and haunting melodies but the latest venture sees the British singer delve into some hearty folk-based sounds.

His vocals remain as visceral as ever but there’s something about the lively arrangement of both the instrumentation and the music video that generates a sense of subdued optimism. The vivid guitar chords move through a high-tempo beat, the instruments tapping together in a rather dynamic syncopation. There does seem to be a current of loss and regret but the composition goes a long way in lifting spirits as best as it can. 

Passenger seems to strike the perfect balance between sorrow and thoughtful. The tune does slither through some subtle classic rock acoustic guitar rhythms, which allows the mood to remain sentimental. A note must be made to the music video as well. Passenger and his band members are donned in full clown make-up, turning the age-old cliche of “sad clown” on its head. They’re crooning to a bar full of the drunk and the broken-hearted but there’s some company in this shared sense of misery after all. The song marks as one of the first singles from Passenger’s upcoming album similarly called “Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted.” 

The album is set to hit the stores on January 8, 2021, so fans will have quite a few months to get ready for what is sure to be a rollercoaster of emotions from the songwriter extraordinaire. Passenger has revealed that this particular song was inspired by a recent break-up. With lyrics like “summer always fades too soon” and “there’s no love left for you to steal,” the song uses symbolism as its driving force. The words are strongly felt and represent a complete overdrive of feelings. 

Speaking about the music video, Passenger said, “I’m a huge fan of ‘The Joker,’ and as the lyrics in the chorus of the song mention ‘jokers and ‘jesters,’ it felt like the perfect opportunity to dress up like a clown and freak everyone out. The idea of setting it in a really grim and depressing bar room environment really helps bring out the story within the song.”

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.