"Listening to Big Thief is like the feeling of looking at a dog and suddenl… Read Full Bio ↴"Listening to Big Thief is like the feeling of looking at a dog and suddenly marveling that it is like you but very not like you; when you are accustomed to looking at a dog and thinking 'dog', watching Big Thief is like forgetting the word 'dog' and looking at that naked animal and getting much closer to it and how different it is to you." - Big Thief

Strange
Big Thief Lyrics

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Doesn't it seem strange
Searching for a hidden page
The fairy's cage
Coming of true age
Leave the costume on the stage
The silkworm's rage
Iridescent thread
Beautiful and dead

Billions of worms were boiled
To make the bed

Strange
See the luna moth cry, cry
Lime green tears
Through the fruit bat's eyes

Scatter and destroy
Every power you enjoy
To lay with the void
Twirling of the dime
Splitting of the mind
Drawing constellations
'Til the stars align

Strange
See the luna moth cry, cry
Lime green tears
Through the fruit bat's eyes, eyes

You have wings of gold
You will never grow old
And turquoise lungs
You have never been young

You have wings of gold
You will never grow old

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Big Thief's song "Strange" convey a sense of curiosity and reflection on the paradoxes and mysteries of life. The opening lines, "Doesn't it seem strange, searching for a hidden page, the fairy's cage, coming of true age" suggest a questioning of societal norms and a desire to break free from the confines of conventionality. It's as if the singer is observing the world and finding it peculiar and confining.

The mention of the silkworm's rage and the billions of worms boiled to make a bed represent the sacrifices and destruction that often underlie our comforts and desires. The juxtaposition of beauty and death is emphasized through imagery like the iridescent thread and the tears of the luna moth through the fruit bat's eyes. These images evoke a sense of melancholy and the realization that even the most beautiful things in life can contain sadness and pain.

The verses that follow suggest a desire to dismantle and challenge existing power structures and to embrace the unknown. The references to scattering and destroying every power one enjoys and twirling of the dime, splitting of the mind convey a sense of rebelling against societal norms and embracing the chaos that comes with self-discovery. The act of drawing constellations until the stars align implies a pursuit of meaning and understanding amidst the unpredictable nature of life.

The recurring refrain of "see the luna moth cry, cry, lime green tears through the fruit bat's eyes" paints a vivid image of vulnerability and the interconnectedness of all living things. It suggests that despite our differences and struggles, we share a commonality in our emotions and experiences.

Overall, "Strange" explores themes of curiosity, introspection, and the beauty and pain that coexist in life. It encourages a questioning of societal norms and a willingness to embrace the unknown and the contradictions that come with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Doesn't it seem strange
Isn't it odd and peculiar

Searching for a hidden page
Seeking something that is concealed or not easily found

The fairy's cage
The restricted and confined life of a mythical creature

Coming of true age
Maturing and reaching a genuine state of adulthood

Leave the costume on the stage
Abandoning the disguise or facade used in performances

The silkworm's rage
The intense emotions and struggles of the silkworm

Iridescent thread
Shimmering and glowing thread

Beautiful and dead
Gorgeous yet lifeless

Billions of worms were boiled
Countless worms were subjected to boiling

To make the bed
For the purpose of creating fabric for bedding

See the luna moth cry, cry
Observe the luna moth shedding tears