Mykonos is an island in Greece, it's well known for its nightlife and for being a gay hotspot. So it's entirely possible that the song is about that but I don't think so.
It's a common ploy in songwriting to name by reference rather than explicitly. So the song could be referring to a "generic" Mediterranean island, it could even be referring to a specific one but, in order to protect the privacy of those involved, changes the name. The demo version of this song with full band fascinates me because clearly there are two parts of the song which were welded together. The full band version only plays the "A" part - possibly that is the "original" song?
To the song itself.
The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us
Footsteps follow, down through the hollow sound, torn up
I love how the Fleet Foxes use such evocative language - there's been a row, someone has stormed off, down the corridor...
And you will go to Mykonos
With a vision of a gentle coast
And a sun to maybe dissipate
Shadows of the mess you made
Here we catch a glimpse of what is going on. I remember when I first read this, my first thought was "someone's gone to rehab". A lot of Mediterranean islands have rehab clinics on them - they're cheaper to run in Southern Europe and if you're trying to get someone away from their old lifestyle, having a hot sunny environment emphasises the positives of the new clean lifestyle. But this song is sung from the perspective of those left behind, those whose lives were turned upside-down by the chaos that inevitably surrounds anyone who becomes addicted to anything - the behaviour of whoever has gone to off Mykonos. It's almost bitter "a sun to maybe dissipate shadows of the mess you made" - it may not be the first time the subject has gone off to "Mykonos" - "And you will go to Mykonos" implies that this is the sort of thing the subject has done more than once and there's a hint of jealousy that the subject of the song can just waltz off to Mykonos and gain their redemption (whatever they perceive that to be)...
How did any holes in the snow tipped pines, I find
Hatching from the seed of your thin mind, all night?
Not sure about the first line, not even sure if that's the lyric or what it means, but the second line refers to the somewhat skewed logic of whoever it is that has gone to Mykonos. More hints of substance use / abuse, someone rambling on and on and on all night or in the early throes of recovery where they become incredibly needy and want to talk about themselves all night - draining either way.
And you will go to Mykonos
With a vision of a gentle coast
And a sun to maybe dissipate
Shadows of the mess you made
And off you go to Mykonos for your treatment and recovery, leaving all this mess behind you, well done :)
The second part of the song - Billboard magazine said that "the second half of 'Mykonos' is salvation for the ears." - is very CSNY - think Suite Judy Blue Eyes, think Carry On. And for me the second part of the song really shows the heartbreak that addiction can cause, from the perspective of those who have tried to "rescue" the addict. I'm seeing addiction (or mental illness, perhaps depression?) and the turmoil it can cause in friends and familes of those it touches, writ large across this song.
Brother you don't need to turn me away
OWWWW!!! Been there done that. Brother can mean friend - it's a lyric, it's not literal guys. Once people go into recovery (from addiction or from mental illness, similar processes) they will often reject former friends / allies / family. Often they do it because they don't want to be tempted back into their old ways, or because they feel guilty about who they were, or because they feel they have moved on. When you are the one rejected, it hurts.
I was waiting down at the ancient gate
Well it is about Greece so a classical allusion fits.
You go wherever you go today
You go today
Off to Mykonos, presumably. Or off on some flight of fancy - some deranged ideal or whim, who knows. Those left behind often give up on trying to know what their friend / relative is up to - you'll go wherever it is you're going to go...
I remember how they took you down
As the winter turned the meadow brown
Can mean so many things. Literally when they "took you down" to clinic. Figuratively when they took you down a peg - shot down your dreams. The winter turning the meadow brown contrasts with the sunny Mykonos beaches - this is back in reality, perhaps before, when you needed rescuing, when I came in and helped you out and now you've forgotten about all this and turned your back on me. It's the fate of the rescuer to always be spurned by those he or she rescues.
When I'm walking brother don't you forget, it ain't often you'll ever find a friend
Whether I am the kind of friend you want, or need is another question. I acted as a friend to you and you have used and discarded me - at least that's how I feel. But the subject's feelings are not addressed - maybe the old friend reminds them of how they fell and how vulnerable they were, maybe the subject finds the old friend embarrassing because the old friend knew him when he was at his nadir, at his lowest ebb. The song is from the perspective of "those left behind" so it doesn't need to address why people have been left behind, merely that they are.
Overall Mykonos is lyrically intriguing and offers a picture into some fascinating behaviours and experiences in life. In my opinion the lyrics in Mykonos complement the stellar vocal performance - in all it is a fabulous piece of music.
Mykonos is an island in Greece, it's well known for its nightlife and for being a gay hotspot. So it's entirely possible that the song is about that but I don't think so.
It's a common ploy in songwriting to name by reference rather than explicitly. So the song could be referring to a "generic" Mediterranean island, it could even be referring to a specific one but, in order to protect the privacy of those involved, changes the name. The demo version of this song with full band fascinates me because clearly there are two parts of the song which were welded together. The full band version only plays the "A" part - possibly that is the "original" song?
To the song itself.
The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us Footsteps follow, down through the hollow sound, torn up
I love how the Fleet Foxes use such evocative language - there's been a row, someone has stormed off, down the corridor...
And you will go to Mykonos With a vision of a gentle coast And a sun to maybe dissipate Shadows of the mess you made
Here we catch a glimpse of what is going on. I remember when I first read this, my first thought was "someone's gone to rehab". A lot of Mediterranean islands have rehab clinics on them - they're cheaper to run in Southern Europe and if you're trying to get someone away from their old lifestyle, having a hot sunny environment emphasises the positives of the new clean lifestyle. But this song is sung from the perspective of those left behind, those whose lives were turned upside-down by the chaos that inevitably surrounds anyone who becomes addicted to anything - the behaviour of whoever has gone to off Mykonos. It's almost bitter "a sun to maybe dissipate shadows of the mess you made" - it may not be the first time the subject has gone off to "Mykonos" - "And you will go to Mykonos" implies that this is the sort of thing the subject has done more than once and there's a hint of jealousy that the subject of the song can just waltz off to Mykonos and gain their redemption (whatever they perceive that to be)...
How did any holes in the snow tipped pines, I find Hatching from the seed of your thin mind, all night?
Not sure about the first line, not even sure if that's the lyric or what it means, but the second line refers to the somewhat skewed logic of whoever it is that has gone to Mykonos. More hints of substance use / abuse, someone rambling on and on and on all night or in the early throes of recovery where they become incredibly needy and want to talk about themselves all night - draining either way.
And you will go to Mykonos With a vision of a gentle coast And a sun to maybe dissipate Shadows of the mess you made
And off you go to Mykonos for your treatment and recovery, leaving all this mess behind you, well done :)
The second part of the song - Billboard magazine said that "the second half of 'Mykonos' is salvation for the ears." - is very CSNY - think Suite Judy Blue Eyes, think Carry On. And for me the second part of the song really shows the heartbreak that addiction can cause, from the perspective of those who have tried to "rescue" the addict. I'm seeing addiction (or mental illness, perhaps depression?) and the turmoil it can cause in friends and familes of those it touches, writ large across this song.
Brother you don't need to turn me away
OWWWW!!! Been there done that. Brother can mean friend - it's a lyric, it's not literal guys. Once people go into recovery (from addiction or from mental illness, similar processes) they will often reject former friends / allies / family. Often they do it because they don't want to be tempted back into their old ways, or because they feel guilty about who they were, or because they feel they have moved on. When you are the one rejected, it hurts.
I was waiting down at the ancient gate
Well it is about Greece so a classical allusion fits.
You go wherever you go today You go today
Off to Mykonos, presumably. Or off on some flight of fancy - some deranged ideal or whim, who knows. Those left behind often give up on trying to know what their friend / relative is up to - you'll go wherever it is you're going to go...
I remember how they took you down As the winter turned the meadow brown
Can mean so many things. Literally when they "took you down" to clinic. Figuratively when they took you down a peg - shot down your dreams. The winter turning the meadow brown contrasts with the sunny Mykonos beaches - this is back in reality, perhaps before, when you needed rescuing, when I came in and helped you out and now you've forgotten about all this and turned your back on me. It's the fate of the rescuer to always be spurned by those he or she rescues.
When I'm walking brother don't you forget, it ain't often you'll ever find a friend
Whether I am the kind of friend you want, or need is another question. I acted as a friend to you and you have used and discarded me - at least that's how I feel. But the subject's feelings are not addressed - maybe the old friend reminds them of how they fell and how vulnerable they were, maybe the subject finds the old friend embarrassing because the old friend knew him when he was at his nadir, at his lowest ebb. The song is from the perspective of "those left behind" so it doesn't need to address why people have been left behind, merely that they are.
Overall Mykonos is lyrically intriguing and offers a picture into some fascinating behaviours and experiences in life. In my opinion the lyrics in Mykonos complement the stellar vocal performance - in all it is a fabulous piece of music.