Lyric discussion by Memento22Mori 

Cover art for A Minor Place lyrics by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

This song reminds me of a quote by Søren Kierkegaard: "In addition to my numerous other acquaintances I have still one more intimate friend – my melancholy. In the midst of pleasure, in the midst of work, she beckons to me, calls me aside, even though I remain present bodily. My melancholy is the most faithful sweetheart I have had – no wonder that I return the love!"

The first few lines seem to say that the narrator has been to a low place in life, but he understands what the feeling is for and its importance to his life- perhaps even to the point where he loves his intimate friend.

I've been to a minor place and I can say I like its face if I am gone and with no trace I will be in a minor place

In the final stanzas of the song he seems to say that a minor, or low place, in life is not the end, nor is it a barren place like a desert- it's really what you make of it. It's minor in sound/feeling alone, and it has a commanding tone to it that drives him to make art despite the pain.

o it's not a desert nor a web nor a tomb where I lay dead minor in a sound alone yes a clear commanding tone

singing from my little point and aching in my every joint I thank the world it will anoint me if I show it how I hold it

My Interpretation