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.

We Are Unhappy
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nothing is better
Nothing is best.
We are unhappy
We are unblessed.
We are unfound.
We are unseen.
Nothing is coming.
Nothing is clean.

Erth it is shaking, people fled
and lord she is taking the eyes from the dead.
Demonised body, exorcised mind
pieces of kindness exchanged in kind.
Nothing is better.
Nothing is best.
We are unhappy.
We are unblessed.
Mind it is going.
Faith is destroyed.
It's emptiness showing god's cruelty deployed.
Lovers have left.
Friends close their eyes.
Children bereft.
We all are unwise.
Nothing is better.
Nothing is best.
We are unhappy.

We are unblessed.
We are unhappy.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "We Are Unhappy" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy depict a state of despair and hopelessness among the people. The singer starts by saying that "nothing is better," which suggests that nothing in life is good or fulfilling. He then repeats that "we are unhappy, we are unblessed," indicating a sense of disappointment and a feeling of being cursed. The next lines, "we are unfound, we are unseen," describe the feeling of being lost and invisible, unseen by the world around them. The use of the word "unfound" also suggests that they have not yet found their purpose or meaning in life, leading to their unhappiness.

The second stanza talks about a world that is in chaos, where even the earth is shaking and people have fled. The singer describes the danger that people are facing, with the Lord taking the eyes from the dead, suggesting that death is all around them. The lines, "demonized body, exorcised mind, pieces of kindness exchanged in kind," indicate that people are suffering both mentally and physically and that they are still showing kindness to each other despite their struggles. The last stanza reveals that their faith has been destroyed, leading to the emptiness showing God's cruelty deployed. The people have lost their loved ones and friends, leaving them bereft and unwise.

Overall, "We Are Unhappy" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a powerful and emotional song that reflects the feelings of many people who have lost hope and are struggling through hardship. It describes a world that is filled with suffering and despair, where even the faith in God is lost, leaving people feeling empty and alone.

Line by Line Meaning

Nothing is better
There is nothing that is superior

Nothing is best.
There is nothing that is the ultimate choice

We are unhappy
We are experiencing mental or emotional distress

We are unblessed.
We are deemed unworthy of receiving divine favor or protection

We are unfound.
We have not yet been discovered or recognized

We are unseen.
We are not visible, hidden or unnoticed

Nothing is coming.
There is nothing approaching or impending

Nothing is clean.
Everything is tainted, corrupted or impure

Erth it is shaking, people fled
The planet is quaking, and people are running away from the disaster

and lord she is taking the eyes from the dead.
A divine force is taking the eyes from those who have passed away

Demonised body, exorcised mind
The physical self is seen as evil, while the mental state is cleansed