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.

Cold & Wet
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

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Water may stop warmth, this do not forget

When things become too warm make them a little wet

And douse them with a mouthful, put the baby down

Clean the earth surrounding and cause the warm to drown

And introduce to every soul a drink made of tears

Hear them bicker, watch them die impaled on balsa spears

And looking in the morning the streets are flooded out

The men are wailing toothless, the ladies ghostly pout

And they shout :

Our shoes are wet, our skin is cold

And we no longer fear the voices of the brave or bold

Making what is to come clear

Well, future is diminished by what today we did

We wetted warmth and killed it and in the water hid

We wetted warmth and killed it and in the water hid

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song "Cold & Wet" are cryptic and enigmatic, but they can be interpreted as a commentary on the human tendency to destroy what makes us happy and to wallow in the misery that we create. The first stanza, "Water may stop warmth, this do not forget / When things become too warm make them a little wet / And douse them with a mouthful, put the baby down / Clean the earth surrounding and cause the warm to drown," suggests that humans have a tendency to ruin what is good for them. By overindulging in something or someone, the singer implies that we create our own downfall.

The second stanza, "And introduce to every soul a drink made of tears / Hear them bicker, watch them die impaled on balsa spears / And looking in the morning the streets are flooded out / The men are wailing toothless, the ladies ghostly pout / And they shout: / Our shoes are wet, our skin is cold / And we no longer fear the voices of the brave or bold / Making what is to come clear," indicates that the consequences of our actions have dire consequences. The drink made of tears symbolizes the sorrow and regret that we will feel when we realize that we have destroyed what we once loved. The men wailing toothless and the ladies ghostly pout symbolize the emptiness and despair that we will feel when we realize that what we have lost cannot be regained.

Overall, "Cold & Wet" is a bleak and pessimistic song that suggests that humans are their own worst enemy. We destroy what we love and then wallow in the misery that we create. The song implies that the only way to prevent this cycle of destruction is to become aware of our destructive tendencies and to learn to control them.

Line by Line Meaning

Water may stop warmth, this do not forget
Remember that water can cool down heat.

When things become too warm make them a little wet
To cool things down, add a little bit of moisture.

And douse them with a mouthful, put the baby down
Use a small amount of water to extinguish the heat, while keeping the baby safe.

Clean the earth surrounding and cause the warm to drown
Remove any flammable materials and pour water to put out the heat.

And introduce to every soul a drink made of tears
Give everyone a dose of sadness and despair.

Hear them bicker, watch them die impaled on balsa spears
Observe as they argue and suffer, eventually meeting a violent end.

And looking in the morning the streets are flooded out
After a night of destruction, the streets are covered in water.

The men are wailing toothless, the ladies ghostly pout
The men are crying without teeth, while the women look pale and sad.

And they shout :
They cry out in frustration and anger.

Our shoes are wet, our skin is cold
We are uncomfortable and unhappy with our wet and cold state.

And we no longer fear the voices of the brave or bold
We are no longer intimidated by those who used to be strong and fearless.