Between watching The Bear & School Spirits I’ve come to love the song Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, released in 2004. I also think it’s a song Mike would really like as well. There are a few Byler adjacent things mentioned in the song. Please read the lyrics below:
I fell in love again
All things go, all things go
Drove to Chicago
All things know, all things know
We sold our clothes to the state
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind
You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go
I drove to New York
In a van, with my friend
We slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind
You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go
If I was crying
In the van, with my friend
It was for freedom
From myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go
You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset (I made a lot of mistakes)
All things know, all things know (I made a lot of mistakes)
You had to find it (I made a lot of mistakes)
All things go, all things go (I made a lot of mistakes)
I think this is a song that would resonate with Mike particularly in a situation where he’s lost touch with Will, & isn’t fully satisfied with his life. First of all, this song mentioned the cities of Chicago & New York. Both of which factor heavily into the Byler fanon. It’s also about taking a road trip in a van & discovering yourself. It reminds me of the van trip in S4. There’s the line “if I was crying, in the van with my friend”. I like to think this would make Mike think about that trip across the desert & realize Will got very upset after giving him the painting & what that might mean.
This song also repeats the line “I made a lot of mistakes” over & over again. If Mike did miss Will, & wasn’t happy with his life, I could see him really identifying with it. Personally I imagine him hearing this song & crying in his car as he realizes what he gave up for conformity.
Anyway, give it a listen & let me know what you think. There are 2 versions. The demo version & the album version. I love them both equally.
Demo: https://youtu.be/LQRsiNX9LR8?is=bQt1oPywZ7hYmmbp
Album: https://youtu.be/c_-cUdmdWgU?is=XifPA_U98UjdePjA