Northern Lights
Bowerbirds Lyrics


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I don't need from you a waterfall of careless praise
And I don't need a trophy for all the games I've played

But all I want is your eyes
In the morning as we wake
For a short while

And I don't need you to catch my wanderin mind
And I don't expect a southern girl to know the northern lights

And all I want is your eyes
In the morning as we wake
For a short while

And I do need the wind across my pale face
And I do need the fern to unfurl in the spring
And I do need the grass to sway
Yes I do need to know my place

But all I want is your eyes




In the morning as we wake
For a short while

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bowerbirds' song "Northern Lights" convey the idea that true love and connection is more important than material possessions or accolades. The singer expresses that they don't need constant praise, trophies or validation from their partner, but rather they simply desire to wake up and gaze into their eyes for a brief moment each morning. The line "I don't need you to catch my wandering mind" suggests that the singer may be prone to daydreaming or losing focus, but they don't require their partner to keep them grounded in order to feel loved. Similarly, the line "I don't expect a southern girl to know the northern lights" implies that the singer doesn't need their partner to share all of their interests or experiences in order to have a meaningful connection.


The second half of the song highlights the singer's appreciation for the natural world and their desire to know their place within it. The wind, ferns and grass are all symbols of the cyclical nature of life and the need for individual beings to be in harmony with their surroundings. Despite this appreciation for the wider world, the singer still emphasizes their desire for their partner's presence above all else.


Overall, Bowerbirds' "Northern Lights" presents a sentiment of simplicity and mindfulness in both love and life. The importance of taking time to appreciate the natural world and recognizing the value of true human connection above material possessions is at the forefront of the song's message.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't need from you a waterfall of careless praise
I don't require insincere compliments from you that are not well-thought-out or unfounded.


And I don't need a trophy for all the games I've played
I don't need any kind of recognition or reward for my past achievements.


But all I want is your eyes
Despite not needing other things, all I want from you is your attention and affection.


In the morning as we wake
Specifically, I want your eyes in the morning when we wake up from sleep.


For a short while
Just for a brief moment is enough for me to feel content with your affection.


And I don't need you to catch my wanderin mind
I don't expect you to keep up with my thoughts that tend to drift and wander.


And I don't expect a southern girl to know the northern lights
I don't assume that someone from a different part of the world would understand or know about something distinctive to another region.


And I do need the wind across my pale face
I do have certain needs, such as feeling the wind on my face, to feel fulfilled.


And I do need the fern to unfurl in the spring
I have a desire to witness the unfolding of nature in springtime, such as the growth of ferns.


And I do need the grass to sway
Another natural occurrence I find necessary is seeing the movement of grass as it sways in the wind.


Yes I do need to know my place
I feel like I have a place in this world and it's important for me to understand and accept where that is.


But all I want is your eyes
Despite these other needs, all that really matters to me is your attention and affection once again.


In the morning as we wake
This time, it's emphasized that I want your eyes specifically when we're waking up in the morning.


For a short while
And yet again, it's limited to just a brief moment, showing how little is really needed to make me happy.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETE MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@theugliestamerican

This song brings back all of the feels

@bishopc.knight4209

yep, for me too. :)

@ArcticAirUltraPro

Same... going a rabbit hole of Fleet foxes and Bon Iver as well

@theugliestamerican

Em A Grizzly Bear too.

@sonnyskies2910

I fell in love with these guys the moment I heard this song....

@hellojuneau8917

Sonny Skies Yes, love at first sound :)

@Trecoolerok

So sad to see this vid has not so many views as it deserves. My favorite band.

@toyfact

this is a song that comes from eternal hugging..

@songgbird92sweet

I absolutely adore this song.

@asteriahero3

I don't need from you a waterfall of careless praise And I don't need a trophy for all the games I've played [chorus]: But all I want is your eyes In the morning as we wake For a short while And I don't need you to catch my wanderin' mind And I don't expect a southern girl to know the northern lights [chorus] And I do need the wind across my pale face And I do need the fern to unfurl in the spring And I do need the grass to sway Yes, I do need to know my place [chorus]

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