She may be young but she only likes old things
And modern music it ain't to her taste
She loves the natural light
Captured in black and white

She sees mirages of mountain ranges
Within a blink of her eyes it changes
Back to the open plain
Oh no she can't explain

I cry out, "Love, keep your arms around me"
I am a bird that's in need of grounding
I'm built to fly away
I never learned how to stay

The night is gonna fall
And the vultures will surround you
And when you're looking in the mirror
What you see is gonna astound you
But all these lines and greys refine
They are the maps of our design
Of what began on Monday morning

Monday morning
Monday morning

Monday morning
Monday morning

The night is gonna fall
And the vultures will surround you
And when you're looking in the mirror
What you see is gonna astound you
But all these lines and greys refine
They are the maps of our design
Of what began on Monday morning

Oh yes, the night is gonna fall
And the vultures will surround you
And when you're looking in the mirror
What you see is gonna astound you
And while the glow of youth in time eludes
It's burning on inside of you
It all began on Monday morning

Monday morning
Monday morning

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Death Cab for Cutie's song Monday Morning describe a young woman who prefers old-fashioned things and is not fond of modern music. The natural beauty captured in black and white photography fascinates her. She sees mountain ranges that disappear as quickly as they appear. She cannot explain this phenomenon. The singer cries out for love and security, expressing a fear of flying away but not knowing how to stay grounded. The song ends with a description of the passage of time and the inevitability of aging. The vultures of time and age will eventually surround us all. The lines and wrinkles we accumulate over time are the maps of our design, reminders of how everything began on a Monday morning.

Monday Morning appears to be a song that addresses the transience of youth and beauty. The woman who prefers old-fashioned things may represent a simpler and more traditional way of living that is slowly disappearing. The reference to black and white photography suggests nostalgia for the past. The mountain ranges that appear and disappear could signify the fleeting nature of time and the temporary beauty of youth. The singer's plea for love and security may be an expression of a deeper yearning for a sense of permanence in a world that is always changing. The vultures that surround us when night falls may represent the passage of time and the inevitability of aging.

Line by Line Meaning

She may be young but she only likes old things
Despite her age, she prefers vintage over modern things

And modern music it ain't to her taste
She dislikes modern music and prefers older styles

She loves the natural light
She adores lighting that is not artificial

Captured in black and white
She admires photography that is monochrome

She sees mirages of mountain ranges
She experiences visions of mountainous landscapes in her mind

Within a blink of her eyes it changes
These visions are fleeting and disappear as quickly as they appear

Back to the open plain
Her visions then revert to an open, flat area

Oh no she can't explain
She cannot describe or interpret her visions and feelings

I cry out love, keep your arms around me
The artist pleads for love to embrace and comfort them

I am a bird that's in need of grounding
The artist feels free like a bird but wants stability

I'm built to fly away
The singer is naturally inclined to escape

I never learned how to stay
The artist doesn't know how to remain in one place

The night is gonna fall and the vultures will surround you
Darkness will come, and negative forces will attack

And when you're looking in the mirror what you see is gonna astound you
The singer believes they will see something surprising in their reflection

But all these lines and greys refine, they are the maps of our design
Our imperfections and struggles shape us and lead us to our destiny

Of what began on Monday morning
Our journey started at the beginning of the week

Monday morning
The start of the work week

The night is gonna fall and the vultures will surround you
Darkness will come, and negative forces will attack

And while the glow of youth in time eludes, it's burning on inside of you
Even though youth will fade, its essence remains

It all began on Monday morning
Our journey started at the beginning of the week

Monday morning
The start of the work week

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Frank

on I Will Follow You Into The Dark

This song sucks

just now