Sister, this song is just for you. I'm leaving with it for eternity
And when we lose the earth beneath us, I know that it won't be long until we'll be together once again
And if it takes all of my time to wait, I'm yours 'til the end.
The darkness is just another way of saying hello I will follow you into the dark where everything shines like diamonds for you.
Brother, this is all I can give to you, I promise it's enough for a start and if that's not true then come on back for more and we'll split what we have evenly
And when it falls apart again, it won't be long till we find our place once again. I've been trying my hardest to get away with everything I'm capable of doing in this world. I don't know why, but there is a part of me that still believes that you can take care of yourself if only for your own sake. So please take what little remains and just let go for a while because the pain has been killing me for so long now it makes sense to feel numb as well."
The lyrics in this song are about losing a loved one. It's also the final single from the band, Death Cab for Cutie's sixth album Codes and Keys, released on July 11th 2011. This is not really their last song ever because they will always be around.
The band have released 7 albums since their first one in 1988 which was called "Infinity" so you can say that this song represents all of their work and time spent making music together over many years (including two hiatuses). If anything, it could even signify a new start or another beginning - something they never had before but always wanted to do!
The chorus seems quite depressing when read as is because "the darkness" may seem like hell or the end of everything. But in actuality it represents just being with someone you love who has died and there's no need for any more suffering (like having to let go) because they will be right by your side wherever you are until eternity begins. This could also refer back towards what Ben Gibbard said earlier about his grandmother passing away at an old age after being sick for quite awhile: "My family had been preparing ourselves emotionally since last fall but no one expects death to come so suddenly like this."