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.

Song for the New Breed
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

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Your little feet
Your sharp teeth
The way the light hits your eyes
Your scrappy fur
Your fists
The light from the lord
That shines inside

Inside of me
Inside of me
Something is growing
Something is glowing
Someone is showing

Sing a song for the new breed
Inside of me

Your deep growl
Your high whine
The uneven way that you move
Your pure heart
Your love
The lord made you to prove something

Inside of me
Inside of me
Something is growing
Something is glowing
Someone is showing

Sing a song for the new breed

I could be right
Then you'd be right too

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song Song for the New Breed evoke a sense of reverence and admiration for the subject of the song, which appears to be a beloved domesticated animal. The singer describes the animal in detail, noting its physical characteristics like its feet, teeth, fur, and eyes, as well as its behavior, like its growl, whine, and movements. But what stands out most about the animal is the light shining from within it, which the singer credits to the lord who created it.

Throughout the song, the singer suggests that there is something about the animal that reflects back on the singer himself or herself. The animal seems to awaken something inside the singer, something that is growing, glowing, and showing itself. The singer encourages others to join in, to sing a song for the new breed, which could be interpreted in a few different ways. Perhaps the new breed refers to a new type of animal that is being bred, or maybe it's a call to celebrate the animals we already have in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Your little feet
Your small and tender footsteps

Your sharp teeth
Your pointed and fierce teeth

The way the light hits your eyes
The manner in which sunlight illuminates your eyes

Your scrappy fur
Your rugged and unkempt fur

Your fists
Your clenched hands ready for fighting

The light from the lord
The divine light from God

That shines inside
That illuminates from within

Inside of me
Deep within my soul

Something is growing
Something is increasing in size

Something is glowing
Something is radiating light

Someone is showing
Someone is revealing themselves