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.

I've Seen It All
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

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I've seen it all, I have seen the trees
I've seen the willow leaves dancing in the breeze
I've seen a man killed by his best friend
And lives that were over before they were spent

I've seen what I was and I know what I'll be
I've seen it all, there is no more to see!

You haven't seen elephants, kings or Peru
I'm happy to say I had better to do
What about China? Have you seen the Great Wall?
All walls are great, if the roof doesn't fall

And the man you will marry? The home you will share?
To be honest, I really don't care ...

You've never been to Niagara Falls?
But I have seen water, it's water, that's all...
The Eiffel Tower and the Empire State?
My pulse was as high on my very first date

Your grandson's hand as he plays with your hair?
To be honest, I really don't care ...

I've seen it all, I have seen the dark
I've seen the brightness in one little spark
I've seen what I chose and I've seen what I need
And all that's enough, to want more would be greed

I've seen what I was and I know what I'll be
I've seen it all, there is no more to see
The light and the dark, the big and the small
Just keep in mind, you need no more at all

You've seen what you were and know what you'll be
You've seen it all, there is no more to see

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I've Seen It All" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a contemplative reflection on the experiences and observations of life. The song opens with the singer claiming to have seen everything there is to see, from the beauty of trees to the tragedy of a man killed by his friend. The lyrics suggest that the singer has reached a point of acceptance and understanding of the world. He claims to have seen both the light and the dark, and all that is in between, and that he doesn't need anything more than what he has experienced to be content.

In the following stanzas, the singer challenges the listener's notions of what it means to have really seen everything. The reference to elephants, kings, and Peru implies that the listener's idea of having seen it all is limited by their own experience. The song stresses the idea that everyone's experiences are unique and what may be significant to one person may not be to another.

The singer further emphasizes this individuality by expressing disinterest in the listener's future experiences, implying that what is important is what the listener makes of their life. In the final stanza, the singer reiterates that he has seen what he was and knows what he will be, and that this is enough.

Overall, "I've Seen It All" is a contemplation of the human experience, emphasizing the importance of individuality and the acceptance of life as it is.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen it all, I have seen the trees
I have experienced all there is to experience, from the smallest details like trees to much larger events.

I've seen the willow leaves dancing in the breeze
I have witnessed the beauty in small moments of nature, like the sight of willow leaves being swayed by the breeze.

I've seen a man killed by his best friend
I have witnessed the dark reality of betrayal, where one friend can kill the other.

And lives that were over before they were spent
I have seen how some people's lives end prematurely and how they are unable to experience all that life has to offer them.

I've seen what I was and I know what I'll be
I am self-aware and I know my own identity and my future path.

You haven't seen elephants, kings or Peru
You may not have witnessed these specific things, but I have already experienced enough in my life.

I'm happy to say I had better things to do
I have been too busy experiencing other things that I find more important and fulfilling than seeing these specific sights.

What about China? Have you seen the Great Wall?
You may ask about China and its famous landmarks, but I believe all walls are impressive as long as the roof stays above them.

All walls are great, if the roof doesn't fall
As long as the structure of the building does not fail, all walls can be considered great by design.

And the man you will marry? The home you will share?
You might ask about my future domestic life and the man I'll marry, but I have no interest in discussing those things currently.

To be honest, I really don't care ...
The subject does not matter to me one way or another.

You've never been to Niagara Falls?
You might not have seen this particular landmark, but I've seen water before, and in the end, it's just water.

The Eiffel Tower and the Empire State?
You might ask if I've seen some of the world's greatest tourist attractions, but the feeling I got from visiting them was nothing compared to the excitement I felt on my very first date.

My pulse was as high on my very first date
The feeling of butterflies and excitement can be greater than any monumental landmark or tourist attraction.

Your grandson's hand as he plays with your hair?
You might ask about the intimate family moments I have not yet experienced, but I have no interest in exploring them or giving them any importance.

The light and the dark, the big and the small
I have seen both the good and bad in life, and I appreciate both the grand and subtle things that comprise all of our experiences.

Just keep in mind, you need no more at all
Remember that what you have already experienced in life is quite enough, and there is no need to constantly seek out more.

You've seen what you were and know what you'll be
You possess a strong sense of self-awareness and purpose which makes you feel satisfied with what you've already experienced in life.

You've seen it all, there is no more to see
There is a sense of contentment in knowing that you have experienced everything there is to experience and are ready to embrace whatever comes next.

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