Drops in the River

love this .

I think it's just about the beauty of impermanence; nothing more, nothing less. :)

I agree with fungado about the meaning. I love the guitar in this song. The guitar part after the first stanza sounds so much like "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin to me, and it gets repeated throughout the song. The guitar bit at the end is also great. Fantastic song.

Not sure all these lyrics are correct but this seems to be about a brief (sexual) encounter and likening that to how everything (including our lives) are miniscule and brief in the grand scheme of things, ie drops in the river/ a brief encounter. Love this band!

The crown of leaves is a symbol of ecstacy, revelry, intoxication, etc. It is associated with Bacchus, the god of said things. In the first verse, it's the morning after those events. The narrator is putting things into perspective- this is a fleeting moment.

I believe in the second verse the narrator is reflecting upon earlier days when he was younger and wilder. Now, he is alone and looking back on his past relationships. "On the shore, speak to the ocean and receive silence" is a powerful line. It could be that the 'shore' is the narrator's view of the future, and he feels alone.

I think we get down to brass tacks in the chorus: the narrator misses somebody who doesn't miss him back. He's remembering the night they had together, but knows he must "let it go". And, in the final section, he's resigned himself to his fate.

I LOVE THIS SONG SO FREAKING MUCH!

It rocks

It's about growing older ("young today, old as a railroad tomorrow..." and "days are drops in the river to be lost...") and loosing your 'glory' days, numerous friends visiting and hanging out ("birds of a feather"), and only having that one other person beside you in the end (like a spouse: "...on the long night we've made...") and finally no one( "No ghost of course in here").

It's about being completely alone in the end.

Best song on Sun Giant, in my opinion.

What I hear:

Crown of leaves, high in the window on a cold morning Young today, old as a railroad tomorrow Days are just drops in the river to be lost always Only you, only you, you know.

Years ago, birds of a feather would arrive nightly Gone you know, held to another like clutched ivy On the shore, speak to the ocean and receive silence Only you, only you, you know.

You hesitate so my memory fade, I'll hold to the first one. I wouldn't turn to another you say, on the long night we've made Let it go.

Only you, only you, you know. Only you, only you, you know.

You hesitate so my memory fade, I'll hold to the first one. I wouldn't turn to another you say, on the long night we've made Let it go.

Speak to me slow my dear, No ghost of course in here, Pleased to be lonesome quiet and clear, All is alone in here.

I'm pretty convinced it's actually "Here as the caves of my memory fade."