Lyric discussion by clm1003 

Cover art for 1989 lyrics by Portugal. The Man

I saw them recently at the Brewery in Raleigh NC and asked John what this song was about. It's about the year his eyes were truly opened, when he realized that the world wasn't such a warm fuzzy place

"not in birth or body but only in our minds"

sounds about right to me

I went to that show as well. I actually talked to John Gourley as well. Found out his guitar was a gift from his parents for his birthday before last, incase you wanted to know as well.

he specifically says "I still felt the awful news". Was there a specific event in 1989 that caused this?