Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. Read Full BioWill Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker has many references. These include 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the slint album Spiderland.
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I See a Darkness
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
Well you're my friend
(It's what you told me)
And can you see
(What's inside of me?)
Many times
We've been out drinking
And many times
We've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice
The kind of thoughts I got?
Well you know I have a love
A love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive
To live I won't let go
But could you see it's opposition
Comes a-rising up sometimes
That it's dreadful and position
Comes blacking in my mind
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
And that I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you (and that I see a darkness)
Is a hope that somehow you (and that I see a darkness)
Can save me from this darkness?
Well I hope that someday, buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
That we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
And did you know how much I love you (and that I see a darkness)
Is a hope that somehow you, you (and that I see a darkness)
Can save me from this darkness?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Will Oldham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Spiritryptamine
It's like he wrote this depressing song at night, went to bed and woke up in the morning thinking : "Hmm. Fuck it. It's joyless. Let's make things happy again."
Quite powerful !
limnificant
What I love about this song is it's about how important friendship is for these two guys as they deal with depression, addiction, loss, whatever.
Seriously, is there any other song that deals with this theme so well?
Robert J. Williamson
Good point. I can't even think of a song that deals with that theme at all which is crazy considering how it is ubiquitous needing a friend to get through loss and dark times is.
"With A Little Help From My Friends" is the only song I can think of which is about friends helping you through. I've always thought it was about depression but then I suffer from depression, so I would think that...
"Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends"
and...
"What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine"
Mark O
"Did you know how much I love you is a hope that somehow you can save me from this darkness?" That's a bloody amazing line.
Schwarzes Eis
"is there any other song that deals with this theme so well?"
...or at all?
I could name a couple, except one of the friends there is a cat (who meant a lot to the songwriter, obviously). But if we are talking humans-only, I am at a loss.
Davie Jones
@gramme parsons
limnificant is the original poster. The guy you’re responding to was saying “and whores” as in, the song’s about whores as well.
gramme parsons
@F Rig what on earth is limnificant and whores? is there a spelling mistake in there?
Carlos Herrera
Fun fact: this dude took the photo for slint's spiderland cover art
love cat
Love that slint album thanks for the reminder to slap it onto the turntable!!!
Newage Staπ
Hello captain is a song I would request off the college radio many times
Our dicks are useless is funny.