Poor Boy, Minor Key

I as, as a person of the age I assume he's singing about, have always thought of it as his way of showing compassion to a pair of teenagers. He feels for how simple they yet are, and all they could transform into. Also the great 'wide world of sorrow' they'll have to encounter and that will complicate everything.

Argh.

Yeah, exactly. This is such a great song. Sad.

While I agree that he is showing compassion to two young souls before they are subjected to the cruelties of the world, I find that in the line "one day they will be as giants/ stronger than the sun/ but that day aint yet come" adds some complexity to his meaning. it's as if hes recognizing the complexity of the notion that yes, it's tragic to enter a "wide world of sorrow," but that with aging you gain knowledge and experience that makes you like a giant...stronger than the sun. then also at the same time to bear the weight of a giant is another tragedy. i adore this song because it hides many complex messages and layers of symbolism in a seemingly simple sad song. i feel like ultimately though, it is a song of experience, not necessarily "sad" but simply true.

to me, its a song about awaiting "transfiguration". growing into a different person with time. even the music during the song has a definitive "transfiguration" from 30's ragtime to late 80's tom waits complete with the mark ribot guitar.

its so hard to pick favorites in matt wards music... but this one is up there for me

Favorite song in the world.