Feel the matress tense beneath me
Like the muscle of nonsleepy
Feathers flexing will defeat me
And it vexes me completely

And the hexes heat covertly
Like a slow low-flying turkey
Like a Texan drying jerky
But his meaty mitts can't hurt me

With my steely will compounded
In a mighty mound that's hounded
By the snap your steel string sounded
Just before your snores unwound it

And in store are dreams so daring
That the night can't stop from staring
And I'll swim sweetly as a herring
Through the ether, not despairing

Go to sleep, you stunning sky
Gently creep cunning by
A quiet hum is amplified
By your thumb
That you suck dry

Hundred raging waters snare the lonely sigh
Oh when you hold your breath and clasp at Cassiopeia

Hundred raging waters snare the lonely sigh
Oh when you hold your breath and clasp at Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia
Oh oh, Cassiopiea


Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget

Cassiopeia Lyrics as written by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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Cassiopeia song meanings
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    General Comment

    Hi Songmeanings folks, I'm really impressed by all the thought you've evidently put into these interpretations, and I'm hoping some of you will be interested in contributing to a project related to Ms. Newsom's amazing work. You see, I am putting together a book of writings to be called “Visions of Joanna Newsom” (yes, the reference to Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" is intentional). I’m looking for art, essays, poems, true stories, academic readings of songs, anecdotes, and all things related to Ms. Newsom. I’ve already secured a contribution from the novelist and Joanna-acolyte Dave Eggers, and the book will be published through a small press that I will soon be starting up here in Sacramento. This is not just a pie-in-the-sky project; it’s real and will definitely happen. I will need new work that hasn't already been posted here, because I don't want to violate copyright, but I'm sure some of you will be willing to rise to the occasion and offer your views on a particular song or album's meaning. So who am I? Well, I teach English Literature and Creative Writing full-time at the California State University, Sacramento. I’m also poet of sorts; you can read some of my poetry at my now-lapsed blog: miracleshirker.blogspot.com or verify my academic existence at the CSUS English Department’s web page: csus.edu/engl/. I’m also a board member at the Sacramento Poetry Center, where I co-edit The Tule Review, and I have a few books and articles out there already in various fields. You can reach me via email at buchanan@csus.edu Thanks! yours, Brad Buchanan

    bradbuchon February 29, 2008   Link

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