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.

Night Noises
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

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Night noises are my noises.
and soiled doves are my birds.
Lost mornings start my days
and questions rule my words.
Shame is in the trunk
it must be somewhere out of sight.
and I drink without economy
when I go out into the night.

There was a man I looked to
last I heard he'd sailed away
made home in south Florida.
but I don't think he's there today.
The only one I'd known who gave me comfort
awe and fear all at once.
while keeping tools of inspiration near
He taught me to make big thoughts small
and stay ruled by human hunger
weakness we should celebrate
and not let others drive you under

Nobility ain't much to ask to find coming ever clearer.
If a man can keep to task when looking in the mirror.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song Night Noises speak of the singer's nighttime experiences and inner struggles. The opening line "Night noises are my noises" could suggest that the singer feels more at ease and in control during the night, where their own noises merge with the sounds of the world around them. The next line "soiled doves are my birds" is an interesting metaphor, as soiled doves refer to prostitutes, suggesting that the singer associates with those who may be considered outcasts. The following lines "Lost mornings start my days and questions rule my words" reveals that the singer feels lost, uncertain, and searching for answers.

The next few lines speak of shame in the trunk, out of sight, suggesting that the singer has something to hide or is keeping a dark secret. Then, the line "and I drink without economy when I go out into the night" could be suggestive of the singer using alcohol as a means of escaping their problems. The mention of a man who had given the singer comfort, awe, and fear all at once could be referring to someone who was a mentor or a role model. The man taught the singer to make big thoughts small and to stay ruled by human hunger, suggesting that the singer needs to stay grounded and focus on their basic needs. The last two lines suggest that the idea of finding nobility is essential to the singer, and it can only be achieved by being true to oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Night noises are my noises.
The sounds of the night are comforting to me.

and soiled doves are my birds.
Prostitutes are the only companions I have.

Lost mornings start my days
I feel lost and aimless each morning when I wake up.

and questions rule my words.
I am filled with doubt and uncertainty in everything I say.

Shame is in the trunk
I am carrying around a lot of guilt and regret.

it must be somewhere out of sight.
I try to ignore my feelings of shame and pretend they don't exist.

and I drink without economy
I drink excessively when I go out at night.

when I go out into the night.
I find solace and escape from my troubles in the nightlife.

There was a man I looked to
There was someone I admired and respected.

last I heard he'd sailed away
He left and I don't know where he went.

made home in south Florida.
He moved to South Florida and settled there.

but I don't think he's there today.
I have lost touch with him and am unsure of his whereabouts.

The only one I'd known who gave me comfort
He was the only person who provided me with emotional support.

awe and fear all at once.
He inspired a mix of admiration and intimidation within me.

while keeping tools of inspiration near
He always had ways to inspire and motivate me.

He taught me to make big thoughts small
He taught me to simplify complex ideas and think more practically.

and stay ruled by human hunger
He encouraged me to pursue my desires and passions.

weakness we should celebrate
He believed that we should embrace our flaws and imperfections.

and not let others drive you under
He taught me to be independent and not let others control me.

Nobility ain't much to ask to find coming ever clearer.
Being a good person should be a simple and achievable goal.

If a man can keep to task when looking in the mirror.
If someone can be true to themselves and their values, they can find fulfillment and purpose in life.

Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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