I think this song may be about his mother, or at least it sounds like the same person he writes about in the song Romulus. I'm not sure if Romulus is about his real mother or is a fictional shortstory song. I don't know much about the circumstances of Sufjans childhood, but I know his parents got divorced when he was really young and he moved away from Detroit with his Father and stepmother.
This is what I interpret the song to be saying by stanzas:
Stanza 1: I can see your clearly sad (lines 1 & 2). You look silly (line 3). Your someone I love but don't trust, or your someone i love in spite of all your character flaws and I believe you have a good heart (line 4).
Stanza 2: I can't stay mad at you its your birthday (lines 1,2). You apear as one thing to everyone but your really something else (like a bird that will not be)(line 4). The line before this (line 3 suggests he's happy about her being like a bird that will not be. I percieve this as sarcasim, but also as him giving up on this person. Its almost like when you know somebody that keeps making distructive decissions but you give them advice that they never take. So you eventually say to yourself fuck it, what can I do.
Stanza 3: As you grow older you just get more wrapped up in things your not suposed to be doing (lines 1,2). If you keep doing what your doing try not to get sad (line 3), but don't lecture me on my shortcomings (keep your proverbs short and sweet)(line 4).
Stanza 4: I'm sorry that life can be extreamly difficult and full of anxiousness sometimes. I know how you feel. (lines 1,2) I hope you do something for yourself that makes you feel happy again (lines 3,4).
Stanza 5 is the same as stanza 2.
Just my interpretation on this one hope that helps :)
I think this song may be about his mother, or at least it sounds like the same person he writes about in the song Romulus. I'm not sure if Romulus is about his real mother or is a fictional shortstory song. I don't know much about the circumstances of Sufjans childhood, but I know his parents got divorced when he was really young and he moved away from Detroit with his Father and stepmother.
This is what I interpret the song to be saying by stanzas: Stanza 1: I can see your clearly sad (lines 1 & 2). You look silly (line 3). Your someone I love but don't trust, or your someone i love in spite of all your character flaws and I believe you have a good heart (line 4).
Stanza 2: I can't stay mad at you its your birthday (lines 1,2). You apear as one thing to everyone but your really something else (like a bird that will not be)(line 4). The line before this (line 3 suggests he's happy about her being like a bird that will not be. I percieve this as sarcasim, but also as him giving up on this person. Its almost like when you know somebody that keeps making distructive decissions but you give them advice that they never take. So you eventually say to yourself fuck it, what can I do.
Stanza 3: As you grow older you just get more wrapped up in things your not suposed to be doing (lines 1,2). If you keep doing what your doing try not to get sad (line 3), but don't lecture me on my shortcomings (keep your proverbs short and sweet)(line 4).
Stanza 4: I'm sorry that life can be extreamly difficult and full of anxiousness sometimes. I know how you feel. (lines 1,2) I hope you do something for yourself that makes you feel happy again (lines 3,4).
Stanza 5 is the same as stanza 2.
Just my interpretation on this one hope that helps :)