Colin says in concert that the song is "...about death...dying...both metaphorically and literally going to the burial ground", but (apparently) facing that mortality in a positive way - hence the cheerful, singalong tune.
The song takes clear influences from The Beach Boys ("Sloop John B.") and Byrds (that jangle, plus melodic bit similar to Gram Parsons' "Sin City"), along with other indie groups (James Mercer's vocals add a strong Shins colouring, and the horn solo is very Belle & Sebastian).
Colin says in concert that the song is "...about death...dying...both metaphorically and literally going to the burial ground", but (apparently) facing that mortality in a positive way - hence the cheerful, singalong tune.
The song takes clear influences from The Beach Boys ("Sloop John B.") and Byrds (that jangle, plus melodic bit similar to Gram Parsons' "Sin City"), along with other indie groups (James Mercer's vocals add a strong Shins colouring, and the horn solo is very Belle & Sebastian).