Muzzle Of Bees

Wilco

There's a random painted highway
And a muzzle of bees
My sleeves have come unstitched
From climbing your tree

And dogs laugh, some say they're barking
I don't think they're mean
Some people get so frightened
Of the fences in between

And the sun gets passed from tree to tree
Silently, and back to me
With the breeze blown through
Pushed up against the sea
Finally back to me

I'm assuming you got my message
On your machine
I'm assuming you love me
And you know what that means

Sun gets passed, sea to sea
Silently, and back to me
With the breeze blown through
Pushed up above the leaves

With the breeze blown through
My head upon your knee
Half of it's you, half is me
Half of it's you, half is me


Lyrics submitted by eastcidskl

Muzzle of Bees Lyrics as written by Jim O'rourke Jeffrey Scot Tweedy

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Muzzle Of Bees song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentWilco have always amazed me how they piece words together to flow as effortlessly as I've ever heard in music. This song is a perfect example of it. I listened to this song over and over and still have yet to get tired of it. It simply doesn't get old for me. At first I didn't give this song the attention it deserved but that changed once I began listening. Now this song is one of my favorite Wilco songs. The song is most likely about love. He views everything around him in a more positive viewpoint:

    And dogs laugh, some say they're barking
    I don't think they're mean
    Some people get so frightened
    Of the fences in between

    He is also uncertain weather the one he is in love with loves him back:

    I'm assuming you got my message
    On your machine
    I'm assuming you love me
    And you know what that means

    He is assuming she loves him just as much as he loves her but is ultimately uncertain and wishes for her to know what that means.
    planetearthon January 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is my favorite song on a ghost is born. it's so incredible. i can't really tell you what it means..yet. in the meantime, you can listen to it at wilcoweb.com/ghosts/… ...you hafta have quicktime.
    cuttoothon May 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentcuttooth, I'm so glad you feel that way. I work in a record store, and a few months ago, one of many record industry friends of my manager stopped in. And he had in his possession a final copy of A Ghost is Born. He set my manager down and told him to listen to this song, that it'd blow him away.

    I don't think my manager was.. but I was. The song was undoubtedly this one. Still captures my attention. The breakdown is tremendously amazing. Some of their best work.
    Nimbus the Kittenon June 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentid heard wilco in like the nineties, and they were so different from what they are now. so, imagine my suprised when i heard some songs from a ghost is born on some late night show, and discovered how incredibly mature and utterly... amazing they have become. i was enthralled. i bought the cd and upon reading the lyrics to this song, i actually cried. it is quite possibly the sweetest song that anyone has ever written, and the music compliments it nicely. it is truly a beautiful song, and, like nimbus said, blows you away.
    lemmingmeringuepieon October 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI heard this song on a mix a friend made for me- all songs about the outdoors. It's the last song, and I was anxiously waiting for the mix to end, because while it's lovely, I was desperately tired and ready for bed. And then this song came on, and I was wide awake. It was loud, it was echoing, and it was dark and cool outside- the very beginnings of this autumn. And so, when I hear it, I hear this autumn, and always see how fall looks on my street, and think I always will.
    periwinklebydayon November 29, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI'm in love
    andadvancingon December 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is one of my favorite tracks on this album.

    The way the world is described at the beginning is through the eyes of someone completely wrapped in the warm embrace of love. I can't help but think that this song is about someone he loves, but isn't sure he loves him back -- he just assumes so based on how she looks at him, talks with him, and what not.
    Queryingon January 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentdoes anyone think there is some link between this song and "In a Future Age" since they share many of the same references?
    no_name_3on May 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think of it as a story some sort of beach house in Michigan where he goes with his family, and how he is at peace there and maybe the muzzle of bees reflects him, traveling around just having a good time, not looking for a fight but just trying to be at peace.

    And maybe knees are some sort of fetish for Jeff Tweedy because he has several lyric references to them. "Under your bended knee..."

    For some reason this song connects to Heavy Metal Drummer in the way that he is going on some sort of a vacation with the people he loves.
    hey_chickenon May 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYes, well, if you don't even know the NAME of the album with Radio Cure, then I'm not surprised that you think this is a lame song. It's their music, so they make it however they want.

    If you want an album that has an even sound level from start to finish, why don't you go out and record one yourself, since you seem to know exactly how it should be done.
    NorthWriteron January 09, 2007   Link

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