That up close kind of ache

The following are lyrics from The Monsters of Folk's "Map of the World":
Put the razor to your face/ hot water for a shave/ kill the shadow of yesterday.
Clean shirts, clean pants, clean slate, second chance/ you're going by another name.

I loved this song from the moment I heard it. It captures existential worries and feelings of stagnation so well. Not that I'm feeling those things at this moment, but whenever I do, this song is a comfort to me. I was shaving today and thinking about the lyrics to that song, so I decided to blog about it.

I heard once that people struggling with depression, self-esteem issues, or those going through some sort of trauma often try to exert some control over the world around them (which-in these instances- seems like the world is spiraling in a widening gyre). I notice that whenever I'm feeling that way I try to make a change to bring about that clean slate. It usually takes the form of controlling my appearance, i.e. shaving, not shaving, or getting a haircut.

Maybe that up close kind of ache he's talking about in the song is razor burn ;)