“I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel, I’m cold and I am shamed, lying naked on the floor.”
from ‘Torn’ by Natalie Imbruglia (written by Phil Thornalley, Anne Preven, and Scott Cutler)
“True words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not true. Those who are good do not debate; those who debate are not good.”
Laozi, Dao De Jing, Chapter 81
Name a quintessential ’90s hit that keeps banging and continues to stand with the greatest heartbreak anthems of all time…? That’s right. ‘Torn’ by Natalie Imbruglia. However, here’s a fun morsel of nostalgia for you: Natalie’s haunting rendition is actually a cover! Originally penned by the band Ednaswap, ‘Torn’ was like a wallflower at a high school dance, unnoticed until the right artist took it by the hand and catapulted it into the limelight.
Now, let’s dive into the Dao of ‘Torn’, shall we? At first glance, ‘Torn’ may seem like the emblem of despair, echoing the agony of deceit and the hollowness of lost love. But let’s waltz beyond the surface and embrace the subtle wisdom hidden within that memorable melody.
The Dao teaches us about the ever-changing nature of life and the importance of flowing with that change. Natalie’s torn state is a perfect metaphor for Wei Wu Wei, acting through non-action. While her heart yearns for the way things were, her spirit is standing, or lying as the lyrics suggest, in the recognition that something real can emerge from the pain – a transformation, if you will.
Much like the Daoist principle of accepting the uncarved block, or P’u, the song speaks of a naked vulnerability, where one’s illusions are stripped away, leaving nothing but raw honesty. Natalie lies there, bound not by chains but by the Daoist concept of sequelae – the aftermath that must be navigated without attachment or expectation. And just as the perfect sky is torn, our constructs of perfection are often illusions, and tearing them down can reveal a more profound weatherscape.
In embracing the fortune teller’s advice, we see the song flirt with the mysteries of the ‘I Ching’, hinting at the possibility that life’s uncertainties are not to bewail but to be navigated with an inner compass, attuned to the Dao.
‘Torn’ teaches the Daoist lesson of Wu Wei by depicting the character’s journey from resistance to acceptance. What begins with the cold shock of betrayal ends with a sober realization – the late arrival of truth after the damage has transpired. In this acceptance of reality lies the essence of fluidity and the acceptance of change, hallmarks of Daoist thought.
And spare a moment for the original creators, Ednaswap, whose own brush with obscurity in the wake of Natalie’s success is a testament to the impermanence of fame and the ebb and flow of the Dao.
So there it is, my friends, the Dao lurking within the haunting strains of ‘Torn’. Whether you find solace in Natalie’s velvety voice or seek wisdom in the unadorned truths of the Dao de Jing, remember that just like the song’s passage from obscurity to acclaim, the Dao is present in every twist of fate, urging us to be at peace with the tapestry of life, even when it seems frayed and unwoven. Keep flowing, keep growing, and let the Dao guide you through the torn skies of existence.
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