My only boy, be not so blind.
Open your eyelids wide. In through your mouth, breathe soft, light…
There are no words, no hands, no eyes,
to show where a door stands wide.
In through your mouth, breathe soft, light…

Let your heart stand open,
when silence trickles down, bright,
and softly, slowly surrounds
your little ghost town

Set all the silver lamps alight.
Open the windows wide
(come to me now, in soft light).

Show every world in its separate light-
(A gull’s wing, a crow’s dark eye)
Where all the city’s foundlings lie

When your heart stands open,
and offered to a crowd,
draw lines around your chosen life.
And let it burn, bright -
over all the lovely faces

(In place of the sun,
In place of the moon…)


Lyrics submitted by McWatt

My Only Boy song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Lyrics are courtesy of Jonathan himself.

    My first impression is the song's simply about opening up...whether opening up to life or love, the boy in question is usually dull and jaded, and is finally letting people into his heart/is finally living/loving...Or not.

    Either way, the song's marching melody haunts me whenever I listen. I love it.

    McWatton March 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about Nico's son, Ari. The first line is a reference to "My Only Child" (My only child/Be not so blind) which Nico wrote for him.

    monkeykillzbananaon June 14, 2009   Link

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