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Aviary
Ego Likeness Lyrics


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In come the vultures through dusty air
to take you down and tear the ribbons from your hair
In come the songbirds with bitter melodies
to sever all your heartstrings as they light upon the trees

This place can sometimes be so ugly
This place can sometimes be so strange

In come the blackbirds in murders and in droves
to cover you in shadow as they clean you to the bone



And here I come, a firebird
Don't offer up your sorrow
Today you see me crash and burn but I'll be back tomorrow

This place can sometimes be so perfect
This place can sometimes be your cage
This place can sometimes be so beautiful
This place will always be so strange

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ego Likeness's song "Aviary" describe a world in which the natural world is not always as it seems. While songbirds and blackbirds are often associated with beauty and freedom, here they are depicted as agents of destruction and control. The vultures, too, are not simply scavengers, but active predators, "tearing the ribbons from your hair." In this context, the firebird - a mythical creature known for its beauty and power - is a more fitting hero than the more conventional bird tropes.


The repeated refrain of "this place" reinforces the idea that the natural world is not a stable or benign force. Its beauty is always caught up with its danger, and its freedom is always paired with its constraint. The singer oscillates between celebrating this world and despairing of it, as they are caught between the competing forces of the birds and their own desire for escape.


Overall, "Aviary" represents a powerful commentary on the human relationship to nature. It suggests that even as we revel in the beauty and wonder of the natural world, we must be aware of its darker side - and our own role in shaping that reality.


Line by Line Meaning

In come the vultures through dusty air
The arrival of scavengers in the form of vultures through an atmosphere clouded with dust.


to take you down and tear the ribbons from your hair
Attacking and destroying a person's pride and dignity.


In come the songbirds with bitter melodies
Melancholy birds singing disheartening tunes.


to sever all your heartstrings as they light upon the trees
To break a person's spirit, causing emotional pain and suffering.


This place can sometimes be so ugly
Sometimes the world is a dark and unpleasant place.


This place can sometimes be so strange
The world can be inexplicable and confusing at times.


In come the blackbirds in murders and in droves
The arrival of ominous blackbirds in large groups with the intent to harm.


to cover you in shadow as they clean you to the bone
To inflict severe emotional and/or physical pain, while casting a dark cloud over it all.


And here I come, a firebird
A fierce and unyielding phoenix entering the scene.


Don't offer up your sorrow
Don't let the pain and heartache consume you entirely.


Today you see me crash and burn but I'll be back tomorrow
There may be setbacks, but one's unwavering spirit and determination will lead to future success and accomplishments.


This place can sometimes be so perfect
Occasionally, the world is an ideal and flawless place.


This place can sometimes be your cage
The world can confine and restrict a person in various ways.


This place can sometimes be so beautiful
The world can be stunning and captivating in certain moments.


This place will always be so strange
Overall, the world is an enigmatic and peculiar place.




Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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