Thirsty

"Hawk" and "dove" are commonly used terms in the context of foreign affairs. Hawks favour force and aggression, doves favour peace and conciliation.

I consider this to be about searching for self-identity. He's lost hold of who he thought he was - he didn't think he was a "princess" but he's having a breakdown anyway. So he asks his partner to hold onto him anyway. The Hawk/Dove to me is about trying to understand yourself - am I an aggressive person? Am I a bleeding heart? Reactionary? Progressive?

About given false self-confidence. He has been fed this idea of him beeing almost almighty and now it all has come crumbling down. Regretting his foolishness. He is realizing that and wants a little reassurance. Somebody to lean on for a while.

I think this song is about depression/low self-esteem. He is curled up behind the house, thinking about how he's "not so important". And I agree with SuperSista, that he wants somebody to lean on for a while, because he's feeling weak and "girly".

I took the hawk in the heart to mean a war hawk, and a dove in the brain to symbolize peace. There's parallelism there. I think he's saying, again, that he's not strong or ready to fight, at least not at this point.

The title of the song intrigues me...Perhaps he is just thirsty for some meaning or semblance in his life, or for strength? Hmm.

I think this is maybe about the need to still be wanted by someone despite you not being a great person.

"I don't have a hawk in my heart" hawks sybolize nobility and he is saying he isnt a noble person.

"no dumbass dove in my brain" possibly he does not have peace of mind or it could also mean that he dosent have the good principles and morals, meaning the dove is refered to in a more christian sense.

their tindersticks influences really come out in this song

I think this song is about addiction to alcohol.

In the first stanza, he says he has no excuse to be locked in his house. He is no princess locked in a high tower. He does it to himself - rather his addiction forces him to stay inside in order to keep it private.

In the third stanza, he expresses his powerlessness to the strength of his addiction. He is girly compared to it. He wants someone to help him defeat his addiction, but since he is locked in his house, no help arrives.

In the final part, he illustrates his internal conflict. There is no hawk in his heart. He is not brave enough to fight. It is easier to stay the way he is. But he is not entirely at peace either. There is no dove in his brain. He is both aggressive and passive at the same time. These feelings overpower him to the point that he can do nothing.

In the end, he gives up the fight: "I don't have a hawk in my heart...."

I found myself humming this song today again and again