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.

Southside of the World
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

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Where were the rapists when I was a child ?
(Southside of the world)
They were my neighbours, that's why I'm so wild
(Southside of the world)
Where were the drunkards that shot with their guns ?
(Ah)
And closed the shops early so we could have fun ?
(Ah)

Where were the women who spread the disease ?
(Southside of the world)
Who spread love so freely and so spread their knees ?
(Southside of the world)
They went to the southside to make their own laws
(Southside of the world)
Away from the knowing of innocent jaws
(Southside of the world)

Lord, they went to the southside and we must go too
(Southside of the world)
If we want our freedom, it's what we must do
(Southside of the world)
If we want happy families, it's what we must do
(Southside of the world)

Give me donkey ears!
Give me honkey tears!
Give me black blood!
And that of queers!
To mix with my own

Come with me to the southside where we'll make our home
(Southside of the world)
Come with me to the southside where we'll make our home
(Southside of the world)

(Southside of the world)
(Southside of the world)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song The Southside of the World describe a childhood experience that must have left a deep impact on the artist. The song tells about people who were present on the southside of the world during his childhood. The lyrics take on an accusatory tone towards the people that he grew up around. He starts the verse by asking where the rapists were when he was a child, and then reveals that they were his neighbors. He then asks where the drunkards were, who used to close the shops early, so they could have fun. It is almost as if the artist is blaming these people for his troubled youth, and it seems like he's singing about people who did not serve as positive role models in his life.

The second verse is more descriptive, as the artist mentions the women who spread disease or the love so freely, and spread their knees. He then talks about how they went to the southside to make their own law, away from the knowing of innocent jaws. The chorus repeats the words "Southside of the World" to emphasize the message, that if we want freedom and happy families, we must go to the southside too.

Overall, the song appears to be about the importance of breaking free from the constraints of society, and how different communities, no matter how dark or troubled they may be, can provide a sense of belonging and freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

Where were the rapists when I was a child ?
On the southside of the world, where they were my neighbors and it has made me rebellious.

Where were the drunkards that shot with their guns ?
They were there on the southside of the world where they closed shops early so we could have fun.

Where were the women who spread the disease ?
They were on the southside of the world, spreading love and freely spreading their knees, away from the innocent on the other side.

They went to the southside to make their own laws
The women went to the southside of the world to find their own way and escape from the prying eyes of the innocent on the other side.

Lord, they went to the southside and we must go too
If we want to be truly free and have happy families, we must also go to the southside of the world.

Give me donkey ears!
Grant me the ability to hear everything so that I can learn from the world around me, no matter how strange it may be.

Give me honkey tears!
I want to experience sadness and heartache like everyone else, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Give me black blood!
I want to share in the experiences of my black brothers and sisters and be a part of their struggle.

And that of queers!
I want to love and empathize with the LGBTQ+ community and stand with them in solidarity.

Come with me to the southside where we'll make our home
Join me in the southside of the world where we will forge our own path and live according to our own rules.

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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