Lyric discussion by tomStrangelove 

Cover art for Yellow lyrics by Okkervil River

Sterni i think you hit the nail on the head, (actualy there is one metaphor (obscured by mist) but its a really obvious one). The song is as direct as they come, really the meaning is said and repeated several times in it, that the bad things in life shouldn't be allowed to colour the good things. This song is Will Sheff at his most direct, its incredibly unusual for him to be quite so direct mainly because he has such a way with metaphors and similes normally.