Fleet Foxes – Innocent Son

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You left me there waiting at the bottom of the stairs with my eyes closed
Holding my right hand in my left
There is no time for hesitation now
You come or go, or go

Rustling leaves falling beside me on the ghost of a morning
Riding in sorrow to the harbor
Far behind o' me the bodies of my friend
Hanging alone, alone again

Some twisted thorn tells me you saw me in the night with another
Keep all my promises to break them
I am no, oh no, innocent son
You run, rabbit run

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Lyrics submitted by brasky09, edited by a2f

Track duration: 03:07


Innocent Son song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Everything this band does is amazing, but particularly this song. It's one of those that I listen to and have to cry, because it's just that cosmic.
    Flag newagefolkloreon December 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am pretty sure this entire song is a reference to the John Updike novel: Rabbit, Run

    The novel is about a man who aboandons his wife and family, i think that fits a bit better with the other lyrics than a song about an actual rabbit.
    Flag Pikeleton May 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Is it about a son whose father abandons him ?
    Flag Inahzi13on May 27, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:I won't thank you - but you're absolutely right - it's rustling leaves!
    Flag rixie77on March 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Beautifully sung. Pecknold's morbid obsessiveness adds quite a stunning beauty to his music. I hope it's just a theme for the album though and not a running theme in his material (see also: Muse's obsession with THE END OF THE WORLD, etc).

    By the way, try 'Rustling leaves'. Don't thank me.
    Flag cdn42on November 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The final words are a reference to a song by Noel Gay and Ralph Butler called "Run Rabbit Run". The lyrics go:

    On the farm, every Friday
    On the farm, it's rabbit pie day.
    So, every Friday that ever comes along,
    I get up early and sing this little song

    Run rabbit - run rabbit - Run! Run! Run!
    Run rabbit - run rabbit - Run! Run! Run!
    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
    Goes the farmer's gun.
    Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run.

    Run rabbit - run rabbit - Run! Run! Run!
    Don't give the farmer his fun! Fun! Fun!
    He'll get by
    Without his rabbit pie
    So run rabbit - run rabbit - Run! Run! Run!

    The words "I am no innocent son" always reminds me of the chorus to CCR's Fortunate Son, also. I don't know if that was intentional.
    Flag mithgilon February 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i believe it is:

    Run, sullen leaves,
    Falling beside me on the ghost,
    Of a morning.
    Riding in sorrow...

    but i could be wrong. he says "leaves" for certain, which means it's not "suddenly". i'm not sure if it's sullen leaves or not. for a second i thought it was rust-sodden leaves, but that is stretching it.

    i think he says "run" to the leaves, because then he says "riding in sorrow to the harbor.." which would then be the leaves blowing toward the hanging bodies. right?

    ...ryan
    Flag invertebraeon February 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:How perfect can a song be?

    His voice is out of this world. It gives me chills. I'm loving this band so much.
    Flag *Gabby*on January 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Ghostlike.
    Flag chickenflickeron April 05, 2008   Link
    • 1 Reply

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