Bedouin Dress
Fleet Foxes Lyrics


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If to borrow is to take and not return
I have borrowed all my lonesome life
And I can't, no I can't get through
The borrower's debt is the only regret of my youth

And believe me it's not easy when I look back
Everything I took got soon returned
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

In the street one day I saw you among the crowd
In a geometric patterned dress
Gleaming white just as I recall
Old as I get I will never forget it at all
Gleaming white just as I recall
Old as I get I could never forget it at all





One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fleet Foxes's song Bedouin Dress portray a sense of longing and regret. The opening line, "If to borrow is to take and not return, I have borrowed all my lonesome life," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer seems to have borrowed something valuable, perhaps time or emotional connections, and feels that they can never fully repay their debt. They are stuck in a cycle of wanting and taking, which has caused them to feel burdened by their past choices.


The lyrics then take a nostalgic turn as the singer recalls Innisfree, a place that holds significant meaning for them. They long to return there, away from the noise and distractions of the world. However, they are being "driven over the stern" by the alluring and dangerous sirens, which could represent the temptations that have led them astray.


The final verse brings a moment of beauty and clarity to the song. The singer reminisces about seeing someone in a white geometric dress in the street, and it seems to be a positive memory that they cherish. They describe it as something they will "never forget" and that it gleamed "just as I recall." The memory hints at the possibility of hope and love, even amidst the regrets and longing of the rest of the song.


Overall, Bedouin Dress is a complex and introspective song that explores themes of regret, nostalgia, and temptation. It invites the listener to reflect on their own past choices and the debts they may hold, while also acknowledging the power of positive memories to provide solace.


Line by Line Meaning

If to borrow is to take and not return
The act of borrowing involves taking something without the intention of giving it back.


I have borrowed all my lonesome life
The singer has lived a lonely life and has relied on borrowing things from others.


And I can't, no I can't get through
The singer is struggling to cope with the fact that all they have ever done is borrow from others.


The borrower's debt is the only regret of my youth
The artist's only regret from their youth is the fact that they have borrowed things and failed to return them.


And believe me it's not easy when I look back
Reflecting on their past borrowing habits is difficult for the artist.


Everything I took got soon returned
Despite borrowing things, the singer always returned them.


Just to be at Innisfree again
The singer longs to be in Innisfree again, a place of peace and tranquility.


All of the sirens are driving me over the stern
The distractions and responsibilities of daily life are overwhelming the artist and pulling them away from their desire to return to Innisfree.


One day at Innisfree
The artist dreams of spending one peaceful day in Innisfree.


One day that's mine there
The artist longs to have one day in Innisfree all to themselves.


In the street one day I saw you among the crowd
The singer saw someone they were attracted to in a busy street.


In a geometric patterned dress
The person the artist saw was wearing a dress with a geometric pattern.


Gleaming white just as I recall
The dress was shining and bright white, just as the singer remembers it.


Old as I get I will never forget it at all
The memory of seeing this person in the dress will stay with the singer forever.


Old as I get I could never forget it at all
Even as the singer ages, they will always remember this moment.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robin Noel Pecknold

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

Nadir Gasparoni

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
If to borrow is to take and not return
I have borrowed all my lonesome life
And I can't, no, I can't get through
The borrower's debt is the only regret of my youth

[Verse 2]
And believe me it's not easy when I look back
Everything I took I'd soon return
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

[Refrain]
One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

[Verse 3]
In the street one day I saw you among the crowd
In a geometric patterned dress
Gleaming white just as I recalled
Old as I get I would never forget it at all
Gleaming white just as I recalled
Old as I get I could never forget it at all

[Refrain]
One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there



Jiya Somaiya

If to borrow is to take and not return
I have borrowed all my lonesome life
And I can't, no I can't get through
The borrower's debt is the only regret of my youth

And believe me it's not easy when I look back
Everything I took got soon returned
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

In the street one day I saw you among the crowd
In a geometric pattern dressed
Gleaming white just as I recall
Old as I get I will never forget it at all
Gleaming white just as I recall
Old as I get I could never forget it at all

One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there



All comments from YouTube:

Nadir Gasparoni

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
If to borrow is to take and not return
I have borrowed all my lonesome life
And I can't, no, I can't get through
The borrower's debt is the only regret of my youth

[Verse 2]
And believe me it's not easy when I look back
Everything I took I'd soon return
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern
Just to be at Innisfree again
All of the sirens are driving me over the stern

[Refrain]
One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

[Verse 3]
In the street one day I saw you among the crowd
In a geometric patterned dress
Gleaming white just as I recalled
Old as I get I would never forget it at all
Gleaming white just as I recalled
Old as I get I could never forget it at all

[Refrain]
One day at Innisfree
One day that's mine there

Li Li

P

Bendage

any Fleet Foxes song brings me either to the Appalachians or the Rockys. something about their music is so elemental ...

Simon

Mountain music my mom used to call it and i agree. This music makes me want to retreat into the mountains and live alone for a while. And then come back

Matthew Snyder

And the blue ridges

PufferFishX

Or the Cascades! They literally write songs about those mountain ranges. Love that.

J Hart

you missed out in sept 2017 at red rocks.

Hunter

Greatest music ever created on this earth.

Thomas B.

Yeah this is good. Megadeth is pretty sweet too.

Francisco Miranda

+helpAHHHH u know it, and Pantera and Sabbath are too

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