It Gets Better: Rhythm of War & Ghost’s “De Profundis Borealis”

"I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say."

Journey Before Destination

I've been in a more music-focused mood of late, detrimental as it is to my keeping up with a half dozen monthly book clubs. It seemed a little early to follow up on my post from two weeks ago, so I figured why not try to make heads or tails of the remaining songs from Skeletá. I most recently tackled 'Satanized' three and a half months ago (see that post for links to the rest), but honestly can't say I had looked much deeper at the rest of the album until about a week ago.

Obviously enough, the topic I hit upon was Track 5, 'De Profundis Borealis'. In particular, I'm drawn to the song's message of hope in the darkness, which it shares with a beloved and pivotal moment in Brandon Sanderson's Rhythm of War.

Combined with the advent of both winter and Seasonal Affective Disorder in my life, now seems like a perfect time to discuss a song whose title translates to "from the frozen depths/northern abyss".

As with previous times I've written adjacent to my mental health journey, I'm considering this Part Three of my 'Journey Before Destination' series – based off the quote and ideas from Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. Here are Part One and Part Two. Today I'll be expanding on that first entry as, believe it or not, writing for a couple hours about a problem doesn't always solve it permanently – especially as significant and chronic a problem as depression.

Kaladin and Hoid, art by Shayndl_art

Rhythm of War

I'd actually forgotten that I discussed this exact moment in Part One, which feels surprisingly fitting for my mental health journey. Whether it's related to ADHD or just being human, I have a bad habit of letting lessons fall by the wayside as soon as they're no longer immediately applicable to my situation; only to have to relearn them upon inevitably returning.

I don't think I stressed quite enough last time that, at the time of this interaction, Kaladin has been plucked up by an evil god and thrust into literal hell. Sure he's been riding the rollercoaster of depression and survivor's guilt for a while, but there's a difference between hitting a downturn and having the whole ride nuked.

On the other hand, maybe that difference is irrelevant. His choices remain the same: give up, or keep fighting. And although it doesn't particularly weigh on him in the moment, giving up in this case wouldn't just be dying; it would be putting his spear in the hands of the enemy and very likely dooming the universe. But such is fantasy.

Hoid, an immortal jester scheming and storytelling his way through that universe, shows up in hell to give Kaladin a brief respite from the storm. He tells the lovely story of The Dog and the Dragon, and finishes their conversation with the following quote.

“It will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you, Kaladin: You will be warm again.” – Brandon Sanderson, Rhythm of War

Hoid telling Kaladin The Dog and the Dragon, art by Jenny Dolfen

Ghost's "If You Have Ghosts" & "De Profundis Borealis"

Only as I'm writing this do I wonder whether Tobias Forge, frontman of Ghost, was (in)directly quoting that line during the song "If You Have Ghosts" performed as part of the film Rite Here Rite Now:

“How about that? I understand that despitе the fact that we're here tonight, and we're having a good time, that might not mean that you're all feeling great all of the time, right? Sometimes, moments of fun can be a liftening of the burden for a short little moment. But hey, that is life, you know? That's how life works. You have fun, then not so fun. You're happy, and then you're sad. That is the rollercoaster, that is life. You got that? Do you understand? Alright.” – Papa IV, Rite Here Rite Now

Probably not. But the message is the same, and I think it's deeply important to hear it at high moments as well as low ones. Where Hoid is helping Kaladin survive the night (without lying to him that his life will be perfect afterward), Forge as Papa IV is reminding us to be in the moment and take joy in the good moments, to hold them in our hearts in preparation for the next plunge.

And "De Profundis Borealis" off of Ghost's Skeletá (2025) sees someone in a frigid plunge indeed. To me, the lyrics (below) evoke an image of someone who has cut themselves off from the world after too many attempts to reach out ended in pain and suffering.

All the things that never gave you peace // Throwin' those, but keepin' these All the rights that didn't undo wrongs // Put it back where it belongs In a palace built of frozen tears // All life is gone But between the walls of whispering frost // Secrets live on Every time you feel the wind blow // And a glow within you dies When tomorrow comes, you will know // That the morning thaws the ice All the words that never came out right // Within reach, but out of sight All the songs that couldn't mend your heart // But slit it up and tore apart See, the palace built of frozen tears // Is your own built prison And if only love could break these chains // Life could go on Every time you feel the wind blow // And a glow within you dies When tomorrow comes, you will know // That the morning thaws the ice

Yet their solitude, constructed both in response to and out of their depression, is only weakening them further over time. To me, the figure also seems to be frozen in the night: they aren't allowing morning to come or are else buried to deep to be aware of it. But once they do allow themselves to reach out, they will find that there is light, warmth and beauty in the world.

Although the "thaws the ice" line is certainly the most relevant to today's discussion and powerful in how it echoes the other two examples, I think the most meaningful line is "if only love could break these chains // life could go on". On the surface, this sounds like the Snow White/Sleeping Beauty fairy tale: that only true love will free this depressed person.

But I hope any moderately well-adjusted person recognizes how deeply untrue – and dangerous – that is. And I think that's the real horror of this song: that that's the belief this figure has, despite the fact that their solitude precludes them from finding external love.

Ghost being the smart cookies that they are, I think the line has another meaning: that if the song's subject can find love for themself, they can break their chains and move on with their life; see the dawn that thaws the ice.

Painting by Julia S. Powell

Until Dawn

And that's the hidden moral of Kaladin and Hoid as well. Hoid has enough magical tricks at his disposal that he could save a lot of people from suffering, maybe even Kaladin in hell. But a) he can't do everything, everywhere, all at once and b) doing so would likely doom Kaladin the next time things turned to the worse.

(Now, I did feel a little squeamish writing that, because it sounds adjacent to some unhelpful ideology. I think the difference is that Hoid is helping indirectly, by helping people help themselves. But please comment with your take on it!)

The takeaways, very much for me as much as for you reading: you will be warm again, even if not every day. The only way out is through, and you have to actively choose to fight and survive. Other people (even fantasy authors and satanic bands) can and will help, but ultimately you have to find love for yourself.

We'll make it through. We'll see the sun again. Thanks for reading and until next time <3