Song Description

The Speaker for the Dead is a short piece inspired by the ideas of Orson Scott Card. He wrote in his book of the same title about his main character Ender having become a Speaker for the Dead. This is a pseudo-priest figure who represents a neutral third party between the deceased and their family, friends, and the rest of their world. A Speaker learns everything possible about the deceased and at any point after their passing, gives an oration to those who choose to gather to hear it. This speech aims to absolve the deceased of any misconceptions. It is the story of the dead told through their own actions and perceptions of their own life. This piece is a representation of the feelings of one person present at an oration given by a Speaker about a passed loved one. It represents sorrow and grief, which morphs into understanding and an internal dismissal of guilt.