Lyric discussion by mocabird 

actually, he has said what it is about during a concert once..

as a child living on a farm, he had the job of making sure all of the chickens were safe from harm.. (a fox) sadly, he says that he wasn't very good at his job and had often found a horrid sight by next morning... the feathers from the now diseased chickens were often carried in the house chimney by sparrows---(hints the name, spare-ohs) to be made into nests... once again, a sad ending to these birds' lives as well (living in a fireplace) the feathers from these birds had traveled through the house and into there food, hair, but no one seemed to care.... a sad memory of andrew's that makes a beautiful song and story...

An error occured.