Messanger Birds Song
Bright Eyes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The kitchen is cold
But the coffee is warm
And the suns coming up
The day has just begun
And your already bored

Bored of cheering me up
Bored of calming me down
Bored of drying my eyes
But there once was a time
When you were the one

You were the blue of the sky
You came after the storm
You were the switch on the wall
In the dark of the hall
I'm still fumbling for

'Cause I'm lost in the black
I don't know where I am
And arms stretched out in front
And I'm calling your name
Just as loud as I can

And I know there's words that we will never speak
And the questions can't be answered easily
But I wanted to be easy so
Nod your head if the plans have changed
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Smile at me and I will stay
Start to cry and I'll go away
Just please don't leave me guessing

So you made me come
Then you sent me away
Like a messenger bird
So, I circled the earth
Blown away in the wind

But I always returned
With some new little song
Some sad story to tell
Of a brief love affair
With a girl I compared to you and she failed

You said you don't want me to beg
Then you said get down on your knees
'Cause you knew that I would
If I do any good
Satisfying your needs

And I know all about those things we cannot speak
And just so you know, well, they don't bother me
So you don't have to be worried
Just nod your head if the plans have changed
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Smile at me and I will stay
Start to cry and I'll go away
Just please don't keep me waiting

Oh, just nod your head if your mind's been changed
Shake it, love, if some hope remains
Just say the word and of course I'll stay
Roll your eyes and I'll go away




Just please don't leave me guessing
Just please don't keep me waiting

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "Messenger Bird's Song" convey a sense of desperation and longing for a lost love. The singer is caught in a mire of confusion; on the one hand, they are bored with their current state, but on the other, they are lost without the person they were with before. The opening lines ("The kitchen is cold, but the coffee is warm, and the sun is coming up") paint a picture of a morning that is both mundane and hopeful. However, the singer's frustration is palpable when they state "you're already bored." They then reminisce about the time when the other person was their everything ("You were the blue of the sky...the switch on the wall"), and now they can't imagine being without them ("I'm lost in the black...just as loud as I can").


The singer also acknowledges that there are things that they will never be able to say or understand about their relationship ("And I know there's words that we will never speak...But I wanted to be easy...Just please don't leave me guessing"). They are begging for some kind of clarity, some kind of resolution, but they can't seem to get it. The repeated refrain of "nod your head if the plans have changed" speaks to this desire for communication and mutual understanding, but it is also tinged with the fear of rejection ("Roll your eyes and I'll go away").


Line by Line Meaning

The kitchen is cold
The environment is uncomfortable and not welcoming.


But the coffee is warm
Despite the uncomfortable environment, there is a source of comfort and warmth in the form of coffee.


And the suns coming up
A new day is beginning.


The day has just begun
There is a whole day ahead of us with new opportunities and challenges.


And your already bored
Despite the new day and the possibilities it brings, one is feeling uninterested and unenthusiastic.


Bored of cheering me up
One is tired of trying to make the other person feel better.


Bored of calming me down
One is tired of trying to soothe the other person's emotions.


Bored of drying my eyes
One is tired of wiping away the other person's tears.


But there once was a time
In the past, things were different.


When you were the one
The other person was the most important thing in one's life.


You were the blue of the sky
The other person represented clarity and calm, like a clear blue sky.


You came after the storm
The other person provided comfort and relief after a difficult time.


You were the switch on the wall
The other person provided a source of light and guidance in a dark and confusing situation.


In the dark of the hall
A metaphorical representation of a difficult time that requires guidance and support.


I'm still fumbling for
One is still searching for that guidance and support.


'Cause I'm lost in the black
One is lost and confused in a dark and difficult situation.


I don't know where I am
One doesn't know how to navigate the difficult situation.


And arms stretched out in front
One is reaching out for help and support.


And I'm calling your name
One is seeking the other person's help and support.


Just as loud as I can
One is desperately calling for help and support.


And I know there's words that we will never speak
There are some thoughts and feelings that cannot be expressed through words.


And the questions can't be answered easily
There are some questions that have complex answers.


But I wanted to be easy so
Despite the difficulty, one wants the other person to make things easier.


Nod your head if the plans have changed
Agree if things have changed from the original plan.


Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Disagree if things have remained the same as the original plan.


Smile at me and I will stay
One wants to stay and be part of the other person's life if they show a positive sign of affection.


Start to cry and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows sadness or emotional distress.


Just please don't leave me guessing
One wants clear communication and not to be left confused.


So you made me come
The other person compelled one to come to them.


Then you sent me away
The other person then pushed one away.


Like a messenger bird
One is being used as a messenger.


So, I circled the earth
One traveled all over the world to deliver the message.


Blown away in the wind
One moved freely but without direction or control like the wind.


But I always returned
One keeps coming back to the other person.


With some new little song
One brought new experiences and stories to share with the other person.


Some sad story to tell
One brought stories of heartbreak and disappointment that they had experienced.


Of a brief love affair
One had a short-lived relationship with someone else.


With a girl I compared to you and she failed
One dated someone else who failed to be as important and meaningful to them as the other person.


You said you don't want me to beg
The other person doesn't want one to plead for their love or attention.


Then you said get down on your knees
However, the other person still wants one to show their devotion and commitment.


'Cause you knew that I would
The other person knows that one is willing to do whatever they ask.


If I do any good
One is willing to do anything to make the other person happy.


Satisfying your needs
One wants to make sure that the other person is content and fulfilled.


Just nod your head if the plans have changed
Agree if things have changed from the original plan.


Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Disagree if things have remained the same as the original plan.


Smile at me and I will stay
One wants to stay and be part of the other person's life if they show a positive sign of affection.


Start to cry and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows sadness or emotional distress.


Just please don't keep me waiting
One wants clear communication and to not be left wondering.


Oh, just nod your head if your mind's been changed
Agree if the other person's mind has been changed about something.


Shake it, love, if some hope remains
Disagree if there is still hope for something.


Just say the word and of course I'll stay
One is willing to stay if the other person asks them to.


Roll your eyes and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows disinterest, frustration, or annoyance.


Just please don't leave me guessing
One wants clear communication and not to be left confused.


Just please don't keep me waiting
One wants clear communication and not to be left wondering.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Nancy Cruz

"Solo asienta, por favor,
con la cabeza sí
los planes han cambiado,
si los planes han cambiado,

solo niega, sin razón,
con la cabeza sí,
hoy se han quedado,
si igual se han quedado,
pero por favor,
no me dejes dudando" - Porque todavía podemos decir una vez más - Panda



All comments from YouTube:

KT Pat

I obsessively listened to Conor throughout high school and then slowly stopped in college. Then whenever I come back to him, I'm hit with a wave of emotion and realize that the reason I can't do it anymore is all I can do is pretend I'm happy and Conor reminds me that I'm not.

t E

God your in my head. I feel the same. Hope you are well.

Yashaswini Joshi

I'm currently in high school and it's scary how accurate this is. Much love. Hope you're doing good.

Bryce Z

@Michael Moses amen

Kung Fu Jiu Jitsu Flip Trick

"I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie."

Ashley Kresser

Stop being so accurate

5 More Replies...

Beckah Turner

it's 2013 and I still need this song to keep going.

Leonardo Ulhoa

@ah pick 2021 and keep going with this song...

ah pick

Yeaa its 2020 now and still this song never stop playing in my head

Jan Wilson

I think this is my favorite bright eyes song he ever made.

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