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.

Love Comes to Me
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the numbers get so high
Of the dead flying through the sky
O, I don't know why
Love comes to me
Love comes to me

When your mouth is laying ope
Head knocked back you don't cope

You're out of rings and flowers and soap
Love comes to me
Love comes to me

Love comes to me
Love comes and all
It's my hands, my heart, my lips
And that is all

When the fever hits your forehead
Intrusive mice chew up your bed
And you call on God and God is dead
Love comes to you
Love comes to you

O, sugar won't you be my only
I'm a hard-hearted honey-pot hungry shepherd
And I'm longing to be born for you, that's her

Love comes to you
Love comes and all
It's your hands, your heart, your lip
And that is all

In the night time when you feel me
And the backs of your knees conceal me
And your eyeballs unreal me

Love comes to me
Love comes to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's Love Comes to Me are both haunting and thought-provoking. This piece of music is about the inevitability of love, and how it comes to people even in times of destruction and death. The opening stanza speaks to the horrors of war and how the dead bodies seem to endlessly fly through the sky. The artist then reflects on why love should exist in such a world. However, the chorus affirms that love does still exist, and it comes to the artist regardless of the circumstances.

The following verse is an incredibly powerful image of grief and loss. The image of someone lying helpless while their world falls apart is one that will resonate with most listeners. However, even in this situation, love comes to the artist. This reinforces the idea that love is ever-present and will come to those who need it most. The song then goes on to detail more scenarios where love appears during times of hardship, such as when the fever hits or when one's god is dead.

Overall, Love Comes to Me is an intensely emotive piece of music that speaks to the human experience. It acknowledges the pervasive presence of despair but ultimately chooses to focus on the hope that love brings. This is a beautiful and poignant message that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced hardship.

Line by Line Meaning

When the numbers get so high Of the dead flying through the sky O, I don't know why Love comes to me Love comes to me
When the death toll rises and skies are filled with corpses, it's hard to believe in love. But, somehow, love still finds me.

When your mouth is laying ope Head knocked back you don't cope You're out of rings and flowers and soap Love comes to me Love comes to me
When you're at your lowest, with nothing to give or receive, it's hard to imagine love. But, somehow, love still finds me.

Love comes to me Love comes and all It's my hands, my heart, my lips And that is all
Love finds me as I am, with all my imperfections, but it's up to me to use my hands, my heart, and my lips to nurture it.

When the fever hits your forehead Intrusive mice chew up your bed And you call on God and God is dead Love comes to you Love comes to you
When you feel lost and abandoned, even by a higher power, love can still find you and offer comfort.

O, sugar won't you be my only I'm a hard-hearted honey-pot hungry shepherd And I'm longing to be born for you, that's her
I'm tough and independent, but I still yearn for someone special to share my life with. Will you be that person?

Love comes to you Love comes and all It's your hands, your heart, your lip And that is all
Love finds you as you are, with all your imperfections, but it's up to you to use your hands, your heart, and your lips to nurture it.

In the night time when you feel me And the backs of your knees conceal me And your eyeballs unreal me Love comes to me Love comes to me
Even in the darkness, when you can't see me, you can feel my love. It's always there, waiting to be acknowledged.

Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS