To Sheila

This song is one of my top three pumpkins songs. Just wanted to point out a few things. Avalon was an island in old literature known for its beauty and being the place where the sword of King Arthur (excalibur) was made. A nightingale is a bird, obviously... but its known for singing at night.

I see the first verse as a movement from light to darkness. This might signify the shift from life to death, but it definitely describes major change. "Twilight fades" It also uses a cynical or jaded view on the "light." "Blistered avalon" (a beautiful world where you have a sense of control lost) "Aching autobahn" (as the long, highway of life). The reason I think it may be talking about death is where it says "into the uncertain divine, we scream into the last divide." Lots of people talk about afterlife as great, possibly "divine", but when it comes down to it, no one wants to go "screaming into the last divide" (divide between life and death).

The chorus makes perfect sense if the person dying is of major importance to the narrator.

I think the second verse has to do with the actual dying process, as mentioned on one of the comments. "Crashing nightingale" she can only sing at night now = death. "Vapor trails" and "blushing brilliance" seem like literal body reactions to trauma. "Time to arrive" once again means dying. Anyone know who Sheila could be???

The rest of the song I think deals with the narrator's coping with the death which has already occurred (agreeing with that original comment again). Grappling with questions of who he really is and God. "It meant the world to hold a bruising faith, but now its just a matter of grace." I think bruising faith has to do with his frustration with God in times of desperation. The grace he mentions after comes in forms outside of religion like change in scenery or lifestyle.

I'm having trouble lining up the last verse up perfectly with my interpretation, but I think it has to do with him finally coming to terms with the death and being content. And he uses that word grace again : ) Change in scenery represented by a "summer storm," which could really have a positive or negative sentiment attachment attached to it depending on the reader. Summer storms can be fun and peaceful because you can still be outside and feel warm rain in comfort. Or it could be more metaphorical and signify a negative event at a time when you should be happy (summer). It throws me off when he references light and night in this verse, but I think its just because he's using them differently metaphorically than the first verse. I think it means he can make her happy by joining her and dying one day, which he inevitably will. Maybe the simple thought that they will see her again is what graces him.

Ok it looks like a small comment turned into a huge one and i analyzed the song to death. Hope I got an A and didn't put anyone to sleep, lol. Hope this helps.