Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
First Aid Kit Lyrics


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Wanderers this morning came by
Where did they go
Graceful in the morning light
To banner fair
To follow you softly
In the cold mountain air

Through the forest
Down to your grave
Where the birds wait
And the tall grasses wave
They do not
know you anymore

More... More... More...

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

In the town one morning I went
Staggering through premonitions of my death
I don't see anybody that dear to me

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

Jesse
I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself to a demon




I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself to a demon

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" by First Aid Kit paint a vivid picture of a haunting and mysterious journey through a cold, mountainous landscape. The song starts off with the image of "Wanderers" passing through the area, gracefully moving towards a banner that beckons them forward. The lyrics evoke a sense of loss and longing, as they seek to follow the whispering wind and discover something more. However, it's clear that the object of their search is no longer there -- "They do not know you anymore."


Then, the song takes a slightly darker turn with the introduction of the "Dear shadow," which is "alive and well." The idea of a shadow being alive is unsettling, but it's even more so when coupled with the question: "How can the body die?" Here, the song seems to be delving into the realm of mortality and what lies beyond it. The singer seems to be searching for answers that only their shadow can provide.


The song reaches its crescendo with the lines about Jesse, who the singer claims to have turned themselves into a demon for. It's unclear whether Jesse is a person or a metaphor, but the sense of desperation and guilt comes through strongly. The singer is lost and feeling like they've done something terrible, and is now unable to find their way back. The song creates a sense of unease and mystery, drawing the listener into its world of half-truths and shadows.


Line by Line Meaning

Wanderers this morning came by
Strangers passed by early in the day


Where did they go
Their destination is unknown


Graceful in the morning light
They appeared lovely in the sunlight


To banner fair
To join a pleasant gathering


To follow you softly
To trail behind you quietly


In the cold mountain air
Amidst the chilly mountain breeze


Through the forest
Traveling across the woods


Down to your grave
Reaching your burial site


Where the birds wait
Where feathered creatures loiter


And the tall grasses wave
With the tall plants swaying


They do not know you anymore
They are not familiar with you anymore


Dear shadow alive and well
My living and thriving shadow


How can the body die
Why must the physical form perish?


You tell me everything
You reveal every truth to me


Anything true
Absolutely everything that is factual


In the town one morning I went
At some point in the morning, I visited the town


Staggering through premonitions of my death
Wandering with a foreboding sense of future doom


I don't see anybody that dear to me
There isn't anyone who means the world to me


Jesse
A name, potentially of someone important


I don't know what I have done
I am unaware of my past actions


I'm turning myself to a demon
I am becoming an evil creature




Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

friend1ymachine

Wanderers this morning came by
Where did they go
Graceful in the morning light
To banner fair
To follow you softly
In the cold mountain air

Through the forest
Down to your grave
Where the birds wait
And the tall grasses wave
They do not
Know you anymore

More, more, more

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

In the town one morning I went
Staggering through premonitions of my death
I don't see anybody that dear to me

Dear shadow alive and well
How can the body die
You tell me everything
Anything true

Jesse
I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself into a demon
I don't know what I have done
I'm turning myself into a demon



All comments from YouTube:

Fourground

They said it was a gift to Fleet Foxes, but really this was a gift to the world.

momjack012

🤯🤯😱😱

Lindsay Bulmer

100!

Sarge

But crazily they still sound exactly the same.
Most young artists 'mature' and change.
These girls already had it from the start.

Plan-9 Analog Effects

It is so beautiful, I keep coming back here for years now.

Nicholas Ystad

I found this song when I was a teenager. Now I’m 32, I have children, and every once and awhile I find myself back here listening to this track. I showed it to someone I loved who passed away, I’ve lost best friends, I’ve lost family, and this song remains here. A monument. It hold such an immense weight over me, and I’ll be honest, I’d never heard the original before finding this, and can’t find the same poignance in that track in comparison to this recording. This is a song I hope is played at my own funeral. It’s seen me through so much loss, so much growth, shit, so much life in general.

Cline 6.7

Im 33 and about lose an older brother to ALS. Literally found Fleet Foxes a few years ago and found this song only this year.. Tonight I found this cover and Im overwhelmed. I pray for you friend. This song hits on so many levels.

Joe Anderson

12 years later....dang. I haven’t watched this since they first uploaded it. Now i feel old. Time flies folks. Enjoy it

Clark Bush

same

light & sound

Same

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