As AutumGreenLeaf said, this is based off the Orpheus and Eurydice myth (which was also the original source for the King Orpheo story). In this song, Bird uses the story as a metaphor for the process of creativity and inspiration.
The first verse introduces this idea, stating that "There are places we must go to / To bring these hollow words on back from / We must cross a muddy river / Where love turns to, love turns to fear". In other words, creative production is like a journey to some other realm where art comes from, which is metaphorically linked to the underworld. This involves some kind of emotional vulnerability, going to a mental state where "love turns to fear" -- this might either be the love of creation turning to fear of failure, or personal experiences like love being transformed into fear of loss when examined closely.
The next verse again connects to the Orpheus/Eurydice myth. In the context of artistic expression, perhaps looking back refers to self-doubt -- creation requires you to have faith in your inspiration, or everything falls apart.
The next verse expresses how we keep trying to understand where inspiration comes from, but we can't make anything out. The imagery of "shells of empty buildings / And great columns of glass" makes me think of an abandoned city, evoking the eerie spaciousness of the underworld. Perhaps this represents memory, as we look back on past emotions and events, trying to understand what it all means. I don't know.
The last verse seems to tie back to the idea of not looking back: "They say you don't look / Or it'll drive you mad / ... / And if it drives you mad / It'll probably pass". In other words, trying to logically understand the process of creation will not only be unsuccessful, but will destroy the original source of inspiration.
As AutumGreenLeaf said, this is based off the Orpheus and Eurydice myth (which was also the original source for the King Orpheo story). In this song, Bird uses the story as a metaphor for the process of creativity and inspiration.
The first verse introduces this idea, stating that "There are places we must go to / To bring these hollow words on back from / We must cross a muddy river / Where love turns to, love turns to fear". In other words, creative production is like a journey to some other realm where art comes from, which is metaphorically linked to the underworld. This involves some kind of emotional vulnerability, going to a mental state where "love turns to fear" -- this might either be the love of creation turning to fear of failure, or personal experiences like love being transformed into fear of loss when examined closely.
The next verse again connects to the Orpheus/Eurydice myth. In the context of artistic expression, perhaps looking back refers to self-doubt -- creation requires you to have faith in your inspiration, or everything falls apart.
The next verse expresses how we keep trying to understand where inspiration comes from, but we can't make anything out. The imagery of "shells of empty buildings / And great columns of glass" makes me think of an abandoned city, evoking the eerie spaciousness of the underworld. Perhaps this represents memory, as we look back on past emotions and events, trying to understand what it all means. I don't know.
The last verse seems to tie back to the idea of not looking back: "They say you don't look / Or it'll drive you mad / ... / And if it drives you mad / It'll probably pass". In other words, trying to logically understand the process of creation will not only be unsuccessful, but will destroy the original source of inspiration.