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.

Untitled
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

First the tide rushes in
Plants a kiss on the shore
Then goes out to sea
And the sea is very still once more

So I rush to your side
Like the oncoming tide
With one burning thought:

Will your arms open wide?

At last we're face to face
And as we kiss through an embrace
I can tell, I can feel you are loved
You are really, really mine
In the rain, in the dark, in the sun

Like the tide at its ebb
I'm at peace in the web

Of your heart's arms
Of your arms

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song Untitled paint a romantic, poetic picture of love and desire. It starts with a reference to the natural world - the tide rushing in to kiss the shore, and then receding back out to sea again, leaving the water still. This metaphor is then extended to the singer's own feelings - they rush to their lover's side like the tide, with the burning desire to know if their arms will open wide and welcome them.

The second verse describes the moment when they are finally face to face and share a kiss - the singer can tell and feel that their lover is truly loved and theirs. The final line brings the metaphor of the tide back in, as the singer states that they are at peace in the web of their lover's arms. Overall, the lyrics use the natural world to celebrate the intense emotions of love and the desire for connection with another person.

Line by Line Meaning

First the tide rushes in
The movement of the tide comes in strongly

Plants a kiss on the shore
It creates a moment of intimacy with the land

Then goes out to sea
And leaves the shore behind once again

And the sea is very still once more
Everything returns to the way it was before the tide came in

So I rush to your side
I move quickly towards you

Like the oncoming tide
Similar to how the tide moves towards the shore

With one burning thought:
A single strong desire

Will your arms open wide?
Are you open to receiving me?

At last we're face to face
Finally we are able to look at each other directly

And as we kiss through an embrace
Our physical contact is deepened by our kiss

I can tell, I can feel you are loved
It's clear to me that you are loved and that you love in return