Mayfly
BELLE＆SEBASTIAN Lyrics
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You are tired of staying in
You are waiting for a sign
Mayfly, woken up when skies are clear
I don't mind you coming near
Keep me company 'til she comes again
You are the one who's making do
I am the one who's privy too
'Cause you saw him at the bridges with the people in the dark
Cana was the start of something big
You were there in the beginning
You were there to see him play
Mayfly, woken up when skies are blue
I don't mind the sight of you
Keep me company 'till she comes again
You are the one who's making do
I am the one who's privy too
Because you saw him at the celebrations standing at the side
He had the moves to save the day
And you would love him anyway
Lovesick, it came back upon yourself
You are the one left on the shelf
You are incapable of playing the fool
Longing so what's different today?
You sent the boy and girl away
You are concerned with matters lofty
But puzzled so it makes you sick
Your diary's looking like the bible with its verses lost in time
And lost in meaning for the people who surround you
It's a crying shame
You know it's a crying shame
The song 'Mayfly' by Belle & Sebastian is a melancholic tune that speaks about yearning for a lost love. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is lovesick on a sunny afternoon and is tired of staying in, waiting for a sign from the universe to bring back their lost love. The song title 'Mayfly' refers to the fragile and short-lived nature of a mayfly that lives only for a day, suggesting the futility of waiting for something that may never return.
The first verse addresses a mayfly that has woken up when the skies are clear, symbolizing hope and renewal. The singer doesn't mind its company until the lost love returns. The second verse talks about Cana, which is said to be the start of something big. The singer was there at the beginning and witnessed their lost love's performance. The chorus repeats from the first verse in this section.
The last verse seems to be directed at the person who is lovesick, who feels left alone and is incapable of playing the fool. The loss has left the person puzzled, and their diary is like a Bible with verses lost in meaning. The song ends on a note of shame, which suggests that the person may be responsible for their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Lovesick on a sunny afternoon
Feeling lovesick on a particularly pleasant day
You are tired of staying in
You are tired of being cooped up indoors
You are waiting for a sign
You are waiting for some kind of indication or direction
Mayfly, woken up when skies are clear
Mayfly, awoken when the weather is good
I don't mind you coming near
I don't mind your presence
Keep me company 'til she comes again
Stay with me until my loved one returns
You are the one who's making do
You are the one who is settling for less
I am the one who's privy too
I am the one who is informed about your situation
'Cause you saw him in the park
Because you saw him in the park
'Cause you saw him at the bridges with the people in the dark
Because you saw him at the bridges with people in the darkness
Cana was the start of something big
Cana was the beginning of something significant
You were there in the beginning
You were present at the onset
You were there to see him play
You were there to witness his performance
Mayfly, woken up when skies are blue
Mayfly, awoken when the weather is clear
I don't mind the sight of you
I don't object to your appearance
Keep me company 'till she comes again
Stay with me until my loved one returns
You are the one who's making do
You are the one who is settling for less
I am the one who's privy too
I am the one who is informed about your situation
Because you saw him at the celebrations standing at the side
Because you saw him at the celebrations standing by
He had the moves to save the day
He possessed the abilities necessary to rescue the situation
And you would love him anyway
And you would love him regardless
Lovesick, it came back upon yourself
Feeling lovesick, you brought it upon yourself
You are the one left on the shelf
You are the one left without a partner
You are incapable of playing the fool
You are not foolish enough to be played
Longing so what's different today?
Feeling a strong desire, what has changed today?
You sent the boy and girl away
You drove the young couple away
You are concerned with matters lofty
You are preoccupied with important things
But puzzled so it makes you sick
But confused, causing you to feel unwell
Your diary's looking like the bible with its verses lost in time
Your diary resembles a bible with its unclear and outdated entries
And lost in meaning for the people who surround you
And unclear to the people around you
It's a crying shame
It's terribly unfortunate
You know it's a crying shame
You are aware of how unfortunate it is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ISOBEL CAMPBELL, RICHARD COLBURN, MICHAEL COOKE, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, STEPHEN JACKSON, SARAH MARTIN, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind