Mykonos

I think the song is about drug addiction and a friendship gone sour: The first verse describes an argument ending with the friend angrily storming out. The second verse suggests that the "snow-tipped pines" (i.e. arguments/rationalizations) of the friend are weak; they are hatched from the "seed" of a "thin mind," meaning one addled by drugs. The third verse says that it doesn't have to be this way. I don't know what the "ancient gate" refers to, but I'm guessing it's some sort of metaphor for forgiveness, possibly a call to go back to the old times when there no problems between them. Fourth verse, not sure, but I think the "took you down" line means the friend had to be forced into treatment. The meadow is probably a metaphor for their friendship, while also noting the time of year all this took place. Fifth verse is pretty self-explanatory, basically saying the singer's friendship shouldn't be rejected just because of whatever happened. I think the lyrics are supposed to be "out walking" or "a-walking", though. "I walking" doesn't really make sense. The first chorus is saying that after all the arguments, interventions, etc., the friend will now go to "Mykonos" - a metaphor for a rehab center, which are often located in quiet, secluded places. The singer is hoping that the "gentle coast" and the "sun" will help get rid of the "shadows." Great imagery, don't think I need to comment too much on the meaning. The second chorus is brilliantly simple - the singer is telling his friend he should accept what is happening and not fight it. In other words, he is going where he needs to be going. The "you go today" is reminiscent of something said during an intervention, where a trip to rehab can be sprung on the addict out of the blue. I think the singer is also saying that he is done with this now; the friend will go "wherever," and the singer can't be bothered cleaning up his messes anymore.

Also, Wikipedia reveals some interesting allusions: Mykonos is a Greek island where the Gigantes rose up against the Olympian gods (Zeus, etc.) and were all slaughtered. In particular, the god Dionysus killed the Giant Eurytos with a weapon topped with a pine cone, referred to in the second verse. Perhaps pine can be a reference to another type of needle as well?

...Shit, didn't expect to write that much when I first started this comment :P Anyway, hope it was helpful!

Good song; now, instead of fellating Fleet Foxes's every word, let us discuss what the song means? Me: I have no freaking idea, that's why I'm here in the first place.

My guess is this song is about his brother again. Reference 'Blue Ridge Mountains and especially 'He Doesn't Know Why'. Read through these lyrics and 'Mykonos' can be read as an account of the Robin's trying to stop his brother from running away from his problems again, literally and figuratively. He gives his brother's name as Sean (older brother) in Blue Ridge etc.

He Doesn't Know Why, (brother reappears from one of his walkabouts?) Penniless & tired with your hair grown long I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong memory is a fickle siren's song I didn't understand

In the gentle light as the morning nears You don't say a single word of the last two years Where you were or when you reached the frontier I didn't understand

See you rugged hands and a silver knife Twenty dollars in your hand that you hold so tight All the evidence of your vagrant life My brother you were gone

And you will try to do what you did before Pull the wool over your eyes for a week or more Let your family take you back to your original mind

Blue Ridge Mountains (partial) My brother where do you intend to go tonight? I heard that you missed your connecting flight, to the blue ridge mountains, over near Tennessee.

You're ever welcome with me any time you like, Let's drive to the country side, leave behind some green-eyed look-a-likes, So no one gets worried, no. So no one gets worried, no.

But Sean don't get callous, I'm sure it'll be fine. I love you, I love you, Old brother of mine.

wow. best thing so far this year.

I've listened to the song like 50 times, I've heard all the live version I can find on YouTube.

He clearly says "Pallid animals in the snow tipped pines."

K, here's my 2 cents:

I think the title 'Mykonos' gives a strong hint to the theme of the song. Why choose this specific Greek island if it wasn't to illustrate a point? Crete would have been more obvious, but perhaps the word 'Mykonos' is just more beautiful when sung.

Mykonos is in fact a gay resort, and I think the whole 'brother'-theme bears a strong reference to homosexuality.

The door slammed... - Someone (perhaps a family member) didn't take the the coming out of the closet too well?

Go to Mykonos, gentle coast... - On Mykonos you can live as a homosexual without being frowned upon.

Sun dissipate, mess you made... - Mykonos is a sunny, friendly place. You can more easily recover from the mess you made back home, when you came out of the closet.

Animals in snow tipped pines, hatching from seed... - No clue, really. Sometimes references in lyrics can be very personal and too private to discern. Perhaps it means that the two 'brothers' were unlikely/lucky to discover each other, because they weren't exactly living in a gay-friendly environment?

No need to turn me away, waiting at ancient gate... - In ancient Greece the love between two men was the only true love. Again a reference to homosexuality as a theme with both 'Mykonos' and 'ancient' as indicators.

You go whereever you go... - You have to make choices in life and live with them.

Took you down, winter turned meadow brown... - Of course things got ugly and it wasn't pleasant to witness. Perhaps friends/family gave the person hell, and it was a personal tragedy.

When a-walking, find a friend... - When looking for (gay) love be aware that a partner can be hard to find (so maybe you shouldn't be too picky?).

Well, maybe I overdid it a bit :-) I don't think Fleet Foxes are gay or the singer is. As far as I know the drummer grew up in a very Christian environment, and maybe this song has a reference to something he witnessed?

Really like the music. Can't wait to see them live.

Okay so I have a completely different outlook on this song in a twist of perspective...

Overall i believe the song is showing a spiritual conversation between an honoured fallen loved one in the battle of WW1 in gallipoli (Greece) and his friend who lived on with survivors guilt. All in all the chorus represents the fallen soldier helping his friend through the panic of war suggesting to go back to the literal island of Mykonos untouched by war where most likely the allied armies camped before the assault on the Turks. Suggesting that it should be his happy peaceful place to calm the soldier then the "sun dissipating" suggesting that he must go back to reality.

"mess you made" is a foreshadowing to the events that got his friend killed and that survivor blames himself for not being able to save his friend.

The first part of the song before the musical change in the verses describes the war whilst the second part signifies after the war.

Brother you don't need to turn me away I was waiting down at the ancient gate

This part suggests that time has moved on indicated by the "was". This suggests that his fallen friend has moved on peacefully and is no longer waiting at the gates of heaven knowing the survivor can live on. "Brother you dont need to turn me away" This suggests that the fallen soldier is telling the survivor to move on and just because of the guilt don't shut me out.

You go Wherever you go today You go today

This part is the evidence the fallen soldier saying to the survivor to live his life not in the past but now, don't feel guilty for the things that were out of your hands just be free and go where ever you may go and go now before its too late.

The last bit is the dead soldier saying his goodbye again in the survivors mind in joking loving way saying that you wont ever find a friend like me when in reality you go where ever you go today suggests otherwise when done through adventure...

It is a bitter sweet tale of self forgiveness and coping with loss... :)

Best thing in like 5 years.

"Brother you don't need to turn me away I was waiting down at the ancient gate"

Christ, the shivers this sends down my spine. Notethetrees and Cromni are 100% correct. I LONG to see this live.

amazement. Fleet Foxes are masters of the word. brilliant songwriting.