Henry
Bodi Bill Lyrics


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countryside – henry turns over
his potato (resting) field to the left of his house
windmill noises sound like the rush of the sea
he gave me the curtain he used to look through
he’s reached the deadend of the rails
walks off the beaten track

Henry is a lonesome man
from a hundred years ago
grown up in a time of change
never lost his childish glow
the wind is telling of a lonely son
the copper stain from years to come
he is taking pictures of the sun
decided for the calm (the neighbors house stays calm)

countryside – henry’s up early
awaking to the sparse empty land
the isolation is hard to stand
what love is there to demand




there is a field in grid, a path, a hand
a glance, a grasp, a word at a strand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bodi Bill's song "Henry" are rich with imagery and evoke a sense of isolation, nostalgia, and yearning. The song's narrator describes the life of Henry, a man who lives alone in the countryside and spends his days tending to his potato field and listening to the windmill. The sound of the windmill is compared to the rush of the sea, which adds to the sense of Henry's isolation and disconnectedness from the rest of the world.


Despite his solitary existence, Henry is described as having a "childish glow," which suggests that he has retained a sense of wonder and playfulness despite the hardships of his life. The singer mentions that Henry has reached the "deadend of the rails" and has taken to walking "off the beaten track," which may be interpreted as a metaphor for his disconnection from society and the norms that govern it.


The second verse of the song continues to paint a picture of Henry's life. He is described as being "up early" and waking to a "sparse empty land." The isolation is "hard to stand," and there is a sense of loneliness and yearning in the air. The singer wonders "what love is there to demand," which suggests that Henry is yearning for connection and intimacy but has resigned himself to a life of solitude.


Overall, "Henry" is a beautifully crafted song that uses vivid imagery and poignant lyrics to evoke a sense of loss, nostalgia, and longing.


Line by Line Meaning

countryside – henry turns over his potato (resting) field to the left of his house
Henry is working on his land, specifically a potato field to the left of his house.


windmill noises sound like the rush of the sea
The sound of windmills in the distance mimics the sound of the ocean.


he gave me the curtain he used to look through
Henry gave the singer a curtain that he used to look through, maybe indicating a desire to share his perspective and experiences.


he’s reached the deadend of the rails
Henry has come to a point where he can't move forward anymore, possibly in a literal sense of being trapped or in a figurative sense of feeling lost.


walks off the beaten track
Henry is wandering away from the normal or expected path.


Henry is a lonesome man from a hundred years ago
The song reflects on a man named Henry who lived a long time ago and was quite solitary.


grown up in a time of change never lost his childish glow
Despite living in a time of upheaval and transformation, Henry retained a sense of youthful wonder and curiosity.


the wind is telling of a lonely son
The artist is interpreting the sound of the wind as a symbol of someone feeling alone and searching for connection.


the copper stain from years to come
There is a sense of sustained inevitability or decay, as copper can tarnish over time and leave a mark.


he is taking pictures of the sun
Henry is photographing nature and light, particularly the sun.


decided for the calm (the neighbors house stays calm)
Henry has chosen a peaceful path for himself, even if it stands in contrast to the noisy, anxious surroundings.


countryside – henry’s up early, awaking to the sparse empty land, the isolation is hard to stand, what love is there to demand, there is a field in grid, a path, a hand, a glance, a grasp, a word at a strand
Henry is up early in the morning, facing a desolate and empty landscape that is isolating him. He is questioning what love or human connection there is to be had in this environment. Despite this, there are hints of things to hold onto, such as a field, a path, a hand to hold, a glance or connection, and maybe even a spark of hope on the horizon.




Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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