After all these implements and texts designed by intellects
So vexed to find evidently there's still so much that hides
And though the saints dub us divine in ancient fading lines
Their sentiment is just as hard to pluck from the vine

I'll try hard not to pretend
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

Since I don't have the time nor mind to figure out the nursery rhymes
That helped us out in making sense of our lives
The cruel, uneventful state of apathy releases me
I value them but I won't cry every time one's wiped out

I'll try hard not to give in
Batten down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

But Mercy's eyes are blue when she places them in front of you
Nothing holds a Roman candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside

There's no measuring of it as nothing else is love

I'll try hard not to give in
Batten down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

Mercy's eyes are blue when she places them in front of you
Nothing really holds a candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside you


Lyrics submitted by doobeydoobeydude, edited by smallwonderrobot, Portishead93

Saint Simon Lyrics as written by James Russell Mercer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Saint Simon song meanings
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    General Comment

    This song is lovely. Musically it's one of the most complex and interesting Shins songs. Lyrically... I find them sort of hard to figure out. The most that I ever seem to get is an impression. The verses seem to be about finding it sort of cheap (or just not possible at all) to use other people's words and opinons to describe what you're feeling. I'm not really sure about the "Mercy's eyes are blue...." part, although it's gorgeous.

    SweetestSirenon April 18, 2004   Link

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