I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
[Chorus]
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
[Chorus]
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
[Chorus]
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
[Chorus]
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
[Chorus]
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
[Chorus]
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"But I’d rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know"
"But I’m singing for the love of it—have mercy on the man who sings to be adored"
some of the greatest singer-songwriter lines ever written.unashamed honesty.
i think this song is about telling someone you loved for a long time about your feelings for them- "And I’m not sure if I’m singing for the love of it or for the love of you/But I’ve flown a long way honey hear my confession then I’ll go" and "its been a long time coming..."
the snow is a metaphor for his fear of rejection and i agree that the birds are metaphors for women, but only one matters- she is refered to as "you".
Now, it doesn't matter to him if she reciprocates, he just has to let her know. "I'd rather be the one who loved than to be loved and never even know." and he is underneath her window, "singing" to her.
those are both classic lines, really really rings true
i was listening to this just recently and suddenly got a lot more meaning out of it.
i think the refrain, 'snow is gone', means he's coming out of a rough period, maybe a bad breakup for example, and he hasn't been interested in women for a while, or maybe just depressed in general. but now he's ready to get back out into the world, and live life again- "Hello blackbird hello starling Winter’s over be my darling It’s been a long time coming But now the snow is gone" In this I think the birds are metaphors for prospective women in his life, that he now all sees as opportunities. Furthering this idea are these lines- "You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs" -where he clearly makes the metaphor of a woman as a bird, and- "But I’ve flown a long way honey hear my confession then I’ll go" -where he refers to himself as a bird.
So to me, this is a song about letting go of the rough times you've had in your past, and just going out and living life, "singing for the love of it" and being the "one who loves".
agree very much with JordyWordy -- "some of the greatest singer-songwriter lines ever written". Such a beautiful, exalting and uplifting song.
Well said Jilo. Exactly my interpretation aswell. Time to get moving again. Awakening to the world.
i think this song is about telling someone you loved for a long time about your feelings for them- "And I’m not sure if I’m singing for the love of it or for the love of you/But I’ve flown a long way honey hear my confession then I’ll go" and "its been a long time coming..."
the snow is a metaphor for his fear of rejection and i agree that the birds are metaphors for women, but only one matters- she is refered to as "you".
Now, it doesn't matter to him if she reciprocates, he just has to let her know. "I'd rather be the one who loved than to be loved and never even know." and he is underneath her window, "singing" to her.
I think this song is about someone telling the one they love about how they really feel.
Seems like he's just happy to tell her this and she most likely doesn't feel the same hench,
'I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored'
and
'But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know'
The main verse is sorta saying that he sorta isn't sure about her but he'd rather be in love and be rejected then never know what could have happen.