I'm blessed with a heart that doesn't stop
My minds a weathervane it spins around just like a top
Knows what the winds of fortune bring
In the season of the witch
Home is a perjury, a parlor trick, an urban myth

Oh how the circumstances change
This world of smoke and steel
Of compromise and meter-maids
I'm going to leave here before too long
Zigzagging toward the light
I'm off to sing my bounder's song

True love it hides like city stars
Nothing to gaze upon or contemplate
How near or far
If it comes, it comes quite unannounced
A momentary glance
Lit up by sun or moon
Or bonfire or ambulance

How the circumstances change
Feels unmistakable with no idea from where it came
But you will know it when it's gone
Zigzagging through the night
Half-dead you sing your bounder's song
Half-dead you sing, half-dead you sing

Sing for the bounder whose word is never kept
A bindle of flowers to state his mind
And bloom when he forgets

It's true that shadows tell the time
On sunny afternoons, on crowded sidewalks, passersby
I'm in a queue that stretches out
Far as the eye can see
It forms a figure eight and goes on for eternity

Oh how the circumstances change
I fly by interstate across a purple mountain range
I find a place to come undone
Zigzagging toward you now
I sing out loud my bounder's song


Lyrics submitted by splitintwo, edited by Browns0286, a12567, Mauskateer

Zigzagging Toward the Light Lyrics as written by Conor M. Oberst

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Zigzagging Toward the Light song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +2
    Song Meaning

    To me this song is about someone wandering through life - reflecting on their place within it, their sense of being always being a stranger without a real 'home', and the unpredictable ups and downs of a life's twists and turns.

    I love the imagery of "zigzagging toward the light." To me it means having a vague sense of your values and life direction ("the light"), but taking an imperfect 'scenic route' ("zigzagging") to get wherever you're headed - riddled with mistakes, lessons, and surprises... And being content with this imperfect journey, singing your carefree "bounder's song" the entire way.

    The vibe is equal parts lonely, nostalgic, optimistic, and at peace.

    Browns0286on May 31, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I thought the line was "I'm in a queue that stretches out..."

    Additionally, is "bounder" the right word? I kept hearing "boundless" throughout, but mostly because I'd never heard of the word bounder, which I guess is an informal term for a "man of objectionable social behavior; a cad."

    Browns0286on May 21, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actual lyrics, as taken from the digital CD booklet:

    I’m blessed with a heart that doesn’t stop My mind is a weather vane it spins around just like a top Knows what the winds of fortune bring in the season of the witch Home is a perjury, a parlor trick, an urban myth

    Oh how the circumstances change This world of smoke and steel and compromise and meter maids I’m going to leave here for too long Zigzagging toward the light I’m off to sing my bounder song

    True love it hides like city stars Nothing to gaze upon or contemplate how near or far If it comes it comes quite unannounced, a momentary glance Lit up by sun or moon by bonfire or ambulance

    Then how the circumstances change Feels unmistakable with no idea from where it came But you will know it when it’s gone Zigzagging through the night half dead you sing your bounder song

    Save for the bounder whose word is never kept A bandeau of flowers to stave his mind and bloom when he forgets

    It’s true that shadows tell the time On sunny afternoons on crowded sidewalks passersby I’m in a queue that stretches out far as the eye can see It forms a figure eight and goes on for eternity

    Oh how the circumstances change I fly by interstate across a purple mountain range I’ll find a place to come undone Zigzagging toward you now I sing out loud my bounder song

    rabidshrewon August 25, 2014   Link

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