Came a Yellow Bird


Came a yellow bird outside my window
She said, “Bring me water and crusts of bread
for I’m injured and I’m haunted
by the storms from which I’ve fled


I tried to fly to New Orleans
but I got lost in heavy rains
and I have many holes in my two wings
from arrows that you aimed”


“It wasn’t I who wounded you
I haven’t any arrows I could shoot
You see I’m just a lonely man
and I’ve never left this room”


“Besides,” said I, “How on earth could I
hurt anything so frail as thee
when we never met before the moment
when you called out for help from me?”


Now the yellow bird stepped down into my room
and she chose her words carefully
She said, “You were aiming for the sun
and I was just in between


and every time you wihsed to die
an arrow was released
And the only thing between dark and light
was my breast or yellow wings”


“But your wishes were so strong,” she said,
“that I couldn’t fly much longer
without some water to cleanse my wounds
and a crust of bread for my hunger”


“This can’t be true,” I shook with fear
though I knew she didn’t lie
“I never meant to harm anybody else
It was just I who wished to die”


And then the tears came rolling down
and the floor fell underneath
and the yellow bird folded her wings together
and I dragged her down with me


Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28

Came a Yellow Bird Lyrics as written by Simon Joseph Joyner

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.

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Came a Yellow Bird song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I absolutely love the lyrics to this song, and I keep trying to download it but haven't done so yet. :(

    brokenspoonson January 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what does it mean?

    burntcigaretteon January 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    So that's where Conor Oberst got the reference from...

    764-mouseron March 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think so, conor is a huge fan

    Charlion April 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Looks like a nice song, got to it from Bright Eyes - Poison Oak.

    Leanne63on May 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a very sad song. I mean especially the last line. He says he never wanted to harm anybody else, he just wants to die. But by wishing for this he hurts her, as every time he wishes he was dead an arrow was released. And in the end, ... he drags her down with him.

    InLoveWithRebeccaon September 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Truly tragic. A real lesson in life. Just because you cut ties with everyone doesn't mean your actions don't effect (or affect, I never pick the right one) them.

    telloldbillon December 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "I never wanted to harm anybody else It's just I who wish to die" That line relates to me perfectly.But I probably will end up hurting someone along road to death.......

    betrayed.hopeon February 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it's about how you hurt people and you don't even realize it. i think when she says he was aiming at the sun, she means he was aiming at god, but she was god's messenger and he shot her instead. soooo sad.

    misskittyon March 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    where can I get this song? the lyrics are amazingly truthful.

    rescindedon July 06, 2006   Link

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