I'm Afraid Of Japan Lyrics

Lyric discussion by zenzella 

Cover art for I'm Afraid Of Japan lyrics by Owen Pallett

I think this song is about a man struggling to accept his homosexuality. He is married to an asian girl (their bodies tend to be less curvy and developed, similar to males) but he knows he can't be with her because he is attracted to men. Chelsea is the famous gay neighbrohood in New York City. "I hear that death by burning means returning as a girl" might also mean that he is struggling with his gender as well. Seppuku is a japanese ritual of suicide samurais performed to avoid shame, so maybe he feels like he must kill himself to avoid the shame of knowing he is gay and living the lie that is his marriage.

"But all my efforts have only made An army of greedy gays"