Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of “alt-country”. Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy moniker has many references. These include ‘Bonnie’ Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the Slint album Spiderland.

The Eagle And The Hawk
Bonnie "Prince" Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am the eagle
I live in high country
In rocky cathedrals
That reach to the sky
I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers
But time is still turning
They soon will be dry
And all those who see me

And all who believe in me
Share in the freedom I feel when I fly
...
Come, dance with the west winds
And touch on the mountain tops
Sail over the canyons
And up through the stars
And reach for the heavens
And hope for the future

And all that we can be
Not what we are

Overall Meaning

Bonnie "Prince" Billy's song "The Eagle and the Hawk" is a poetic tribute to the majesty and freedom of these two magnificent birds of prey. In the song, the singer embodies the eagle and the hawk, living in the high country and soaring through the skies. He invites us to share in his feeling of liberation and power, to witness the beauty of nature and to hope for a brighter future.

The image of the eagle and the hawk is rich with symbolism. The eagle is often associated with spiritual transcendence, with rising above the mundane world and reaching towards the divine. The hawk, on the other hand, is a symbol of courage, ferocity and freedom, able to see things from a different perspective and act accordingly. Both birds are hunters, fierce and determined, capable of taking down their prey with precision and skill.

Line by Line Meaning

I am the eagle
The singer sees himself as an eagle, a symbol of strength, freedom, and a life lived in the highest of places.

I live in high country
The eagle, being a bird of prey, has a domain that is not shared by other birds, that is, a place of greater height where he reigns supreme.

In rocky cathedrals
The place in which the eagle soars is his sanctuary, full of sharp, pointed rocks and jutting peaks that resemble religious edifices.

That reach to the sky
The eagle's domain seems to never end, as the rocky cathedrals expel into the highest of reaches.

I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers
The artist suddenly changes to being a hawk in this stanza, identifying himself with a predator who has recently hunted and shows evidence of his kill by blood being coated on his feathers.

But time is still turning
While the hawk's prey met a swift end, time continues its relentless progress forward as always.

They soon will be dry
The hawk's blood will eventually dry up like everything else in time.

And all those who see me
The hawk is an unmistakable predator that leaves an impression on those who see him.

And all who believe in me
As a hunter, hawk inspires a following of sorts with his skills and poise.

Share in the freedom I feel when I fly
Watching a hawk, in flight, evokes a sense of inspiration and a feeling of freedom.

Come, dance with the west winds
The winds blowing from the west are inviting the singer to partake of their movement, carrying all who dare to join in away with them.

And touch on the mountain tops
The winds carry the singer over and through the rocky peaks, allowing him to touch them briefly.

Sail over the canyons
From high up in the sky, the singer enjoys the view of the canyons, as the wind carries him over them.

And up through the stars
The hawk isn't just confined to earthly flight as it reaches for the stars above.

And reach for the heavens
Beyond the highest mountain peaks and the stars is the domain of the heavens, to which the hawk strives to reach.

And hope for the future
Looking beyond the present is the very essence of hope, the hope for tomorrow and the promise of better results.

And all that we can be
The singer is encouraging people to think beyond the present limits of their lives and dare to think of what else they can be.

Not what we are
A bright and limitless future awaits if people have the courage to abandon who they are and forge new paths.

Writer(s): Mike Taylor, John Denver

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

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