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If you see a flaming sword in your dreams at night
And feel inspired to assign me up to the front line
Well give the order, you'll storm the border without me
If they tell you you're a genius but you need some proof
Ask anybody on the payroll to go out with you
If they avoid ya, then they'll award ya definitely
Nobody that's around just seems to get it right
How hard is it to follow just a few guidelines
And smile while you do it
If you want a page written 'bout you in the book
But you need a food tester 'cause you curse the cook
I'll take some wine but you can dine without me
Without me
Who would let you play God
And make-believe that all the blasphemy
Is coming only from me?
If you're bound for the throne but the king won't die
I can occupy the queen but that's for her and I
I can do her and you'll be ruler without me
Yeah you can do it
But you can do it without me
And feel inspired to assign me up to the front line
Well give the order, you'll storm the border without me
If they tell you you're a genius but you need some proof
Ask anybody on the payroll to go out with you
If they avoid ya, then they'll award ya definitely
Nobody that's around just seems to get it right
How hard is it to follow just a few guidelines
And smile while you do it
If you want a page written 'bout you in the book
But you need a food tester 'cause you curse the cook
I'll take some wine but you can dine without me
Without me
Who would let you play God
And make-believe that all the blasphemy
Is coming only from me?
If you're bound for the throne but the king won't die
I can occupy the queen but that's for her and I
I can do her and you'll be ruler without me
Yeah you can do it
But you can do it without me
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This is quite possibly a song directed at Robin Pecknold, singer of his old band, Fleet Foxes.
I've wondered about that. He wrote it quite a while ago and performed it at Origami Vinyl, definitely while he was still in Fleet Foxes, so I still have some doubts that he would have stuck around so long after feeling this way, but I don't think the song is about an old flame, and the whole line about "if they tell you you're a genius but you need some proof" definitely sounds like it could be directed at Robin, since he's such a perfectionist and has so much self-doubt. They've said in interviews that Robin has a hard time finishing a song, because he never thinks it's good enough even though everyone else says it sounds great... that goes for the "nobody that's around you seems to get it right" line.<br /> <br /> So it's possible. I don't think anyone would ever acknowledge it publicly, though, out of courtesy...
I think you can make it about that if you want to, but to me he's just talking about a generic individual that is barking orders and doing none of the work. Yea, it makes sense for him to be talking about an old band but I like to think it's a little more inspired than that... Maybe not though.