Lyric discussion by tomastronaut 

Cover art for Absentee lyrics by Emmy the Great

As a child I was brought up a catholic, and there's a hymn 'kyrie ilasion' that's from a psalm or something. And I think that's what the lyrics are, not 'giving liason'. To nitpick further, I could have sworn the song starts with 'One goodbye for everyone'.

I always thought this was about the family gathering because the elderly parents have died - 'Our parents sleep and sleep, They don’t remember the ones they have left', and children 'sad in the ear'.

The hymn references add to this I think.

Besides that, it is a really great song & I love it.

I agree with you, especially with the first line. I also thought it was church music rather than child's music. It seems to fit with the theme better.