Light On (track)
by David Cook

From soundguardian 12/22/2013 21:47 | #98401

This is it. The one. The focal point of the album. The single that rose Cook to prominence beyond the Idol scheme. It's ambitious in its vocal lines, and Cook nails every single one. He successfully enmeshes the listener in the impassioned variety of feelings that the narrator feels - and feelings he knows his beloved will feel when he leaves: love, tribulation, regret, fear, loneliness.

The message is hidden, and the only thing explicit is that the narrator must leave his beloved home in the face of adversity. This adversity is not specified, but based on the timeline of this album's recording and release, it's most likely a hidden reference to the War Against Terrorism (in Iraq and Afghanistan, in particular), and explores the struggles that loved ones have had to face when separated and flung into the disastrous situation that they may never see one another alive again. It's tortuous and real, and difficult to encapsulate with mere words in a review.

Without expanding the piece to a contrived and heavy-handed length of over 4 minutes, Cook demonstrates that he has not only super chops, but also song-writing talent.