The song "Charon" by Keaton Henson is a reflection on isolation, loss, and death. Charon is a figure from Greek mythology who was the ferryman of the dead, responsible for carrying souls across the river Styx to the afterlife. In the song, the lyrics "there'll be coins on my eyes" refer to the ancient Greek tradition of placing coins on the eyes of the dead to pay Charon for safe passage. The narrator of the song feels alone and disconnected from others, as if he is losing friends and unable to grow in his small world. He is also plagued by physical and emotional discomfort, which is reflected in the line "I don't feel well, couldn't you tell, from the way I touch my face?". Despite these feelings, the narrator is fiercely protective of his loved ones, hinted by the line "Before I let you near my son", suggesting he takes great care in screening those he allows into his life. The repeated phrase "And I ain't no Hercules" emphasizes the narrator's vulnerability and inability to conquer, or even handle, his life's difficulties alone. The song is ultimately a somber meditation on the inevitability of death and the importance of cherishing our loved ones while we are still alive.
