Oliver James
Fleet Foxes Lyrics
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By the river bridge a cradle floating beside me.
In the whitest water on the banks against the stone
You will lift his body from the shore and bring him home
[Chorus]
Oliver James washed in the rain no longer
Oliver James washed in the rain no longer
On the kitchen table that your grandfather did make
You and your delicate way will slowly clean his fate
And you will remember when you rehearsed the actions of
A innocent and anxious mother full of anxious love
[Chorus]
Walk with me down the beach and through the valley floor
Love for the one you know more
Love for the one you know more
Back we go to your brother's house emptier my dear
The sound of ancient voices ringing soft upon your ear
[Chorus]
The opening lines of Oliver James evoke imagery of a journey towards someone's brother's house, with the main protagonist describing a strange sight on the way - a cradle floating beside them in the river. As the story unfolds, we learn that this cradle is a foreshadowing of a tragedy that occurs at some point, in which a child's body is found in the river. The lyrics are delivered with a sense of melancholy and resignation, hinting at the inevitability of this event and the sorrow that it brings.
The chorus of the song, "Oliver James washed in the rain no longer," is a reference to the cleansing of the child's body, perhaps in a symbolic sense. The following verses describe the aftermath of the tragedy, with the community coming together to mourn and support one another. There is a sense of shared history and tradition, with references to the kitchen table that was made by the singer's grandfather and the sound of ancient voices. The song ends on a somber note, with the singer returning home from the brother's house, the weight of the tragedy still heavy on their heart.
Overall, Oliver James is a powerful and poignant reflection on loss and grief, with a sense of both beauty and sadness in its imagery and melody. It is a reminder of the universality of human experience, the way that tragedy can touch us all and the importance of coming together in community to support one another through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
On the way to your brother's house in the valley, dear,
As we journey to your sibling's abode nestled in the valley, my love
By the river bridge a cradle floating beside me.
As we pass by the river bridge, I spot a cradle drifting along the water's surface, right next to me.
In the whitest water on the banks against the stone
The baby's cradle finds itself in the calmest and clearest deeps along the riverbank.
You will lift his body from the shore and bring him home
You will heroically retrieve the infant from the shore, and carry him safely home.
[Chorus]
Oliver James emerges from his cleansing ritual, free from the pain of the rain.
On the kitchen table that your grandfather did make
We place him on the kitchen table, a craft passed down from your family.
You and your delicate way will slowly clean his fate
You gently go about washing the infant, cleansing him of his past life.
And you will remember when you rehearsed the actions of
You recall the moments when you practiced and prepared for the arrival of a baby.
A innocent and anxious mother full of anxious love
An innocent and nervous young mother awaiting the arrival of her first child.
[Chorus]
Oliver James is now purified, he no longer feels the pain of the rain.
Walk with me down the beach and through the valley floor
Join me in a romantic walk, down the shore and into the cradle of the valley.
Love for the one you know more
Share our fondness for a person we hold so dear to our hearts.
Love for the one you know more
Share our fondness for a person we hold so dear to our hearts.
Back we go to your brother's house emptier my dear
We return to your brother's house, though feeling emptier than before, my love.
The sound of ancient voices ringing soft upon your ear
You can hear the echoes of old and timeless voices resounding softly in your ears.
[Chorus]
Oliver James is now cleansed from his past sufferings, and feels revitalized from his purifying shower.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBIN PECKNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind