My sense is that the new pornographers aren't overly concerened with song meanings, quite possibly choosing lyrics to suit the music.
However on meaning that may fit this song is the description of an autistic person. "Mistake on the part of nature" and "wear my Sunday suit to walk the street", an obsessive use of a strange word like "byzantine" all point in that direction. "Sweet talk" refers to any talk coming from an autistic, even if to an ordinary observer it doesn't sound very sweet (like a "shout from the top"). There are other little clues, like he sees people as "silouettes" or that he's very literal ("way back then, you ask exactly when"). "Amnesia becomes ambition" points to some sort of mental defect, certainly.
My sense is that the new pornographers aren't overly concerened with song meanings, quite possibly choosing lyrics to suit the music.
However on meaning that may fit this song is the description of an autistic person. "Mistake on the part of nature" and "wear my Sunday suit to walk the street", an obsessive use of a strange word like "byzantine" all point in that direction. "Sweet talk" refers to any talk coming from an autistic, even if to an ordinary observer it doesn't sound very sweet (like a "shout from the top"). There are other little clues, like he sees people as "silouettes" or that he's very literal ("way back then, you ask exactly when"). "Amnesia becomes ambition" points to some sort of mental defect, certainly.