I don't believe this is an end-all answer to what the singer believes. Just looking at the words, most of the lyrics are interrogative. As well, the song is a delightful little ballad. It's not as if he is singing it in a hopeless vacuum. It's more like he's singing it looking back on the times when he's questioned the purpose of life- yet, he finds reasons to experience joy.
My person beliefs (faith in God) conflict with the idea of 'blissful meaninglessness.' I'm sure that concept has another name, but that's the idea that this song seems to convey on the surface. But is Pecknold really a surface level writer? I feel like his material runs a little deeper than that. Personally, I don't hear this song as the grave of one's faith. It seems more like a photograph of a season of doubt. You can look at an old photo of yourself and remember who you used to be, and gain a little bit of perspective that way.
I don't believe this is an end-all answer to what the singer believes. Just looking at the words, most of the lyrics are interrogative. As well, the song is a delightful little ballad. It's not as if he is singing it in a hopeless vacuum. It's more like he's singing it looking back on the times when he's questioned the purpose of life- yet, he finds reasons to experience joy.
My person beliefs (faith in God) conflict with the idea of 'blissful meaninglessness.' I'm sure that concept has another name, but that's the idea that this song seems to convey on the surface. But is Pecknold really a surface level writer? I feel like his material runs a little deeper than that. Personally, I don't hear this song as the grave of one's faith. It seems more like a photograph of a season of doubt. You can look at an old photo of yourself and remember who you used to be, and gain a little bit of perspective that way.