They teamed up to produce this subtle and beautiful album one cold winter in the Weakerthans' home province. Magic ensued.
Constellation
Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scattered in all kinds of combinations
Wonderin' where in the hell it is we're even calling from
And like so many other people
We're all such ordinary people
Wonderin' how in the hell it is some days we get anything done
We never get to fly, fly, fly away
And I know you always told me
From day one, you always told me
If you can't hold on, eventually, everything will run
And scatter in all directions
And hide from the daylight's reflections
That leaves you wonderin' where it is that you are even from
And despite what they say we're not like birds or even aeroplanes
We'll never get to fly, fly, fly away
And despite what they say we'll never be like the aeroplanes
Lookin' at all the constellations
Scattered in all kinds of combinations
Wonderin' where in the hell it is we're even calling from
In "Constellation," Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans paint a picture of the complexity of human existence and the difficulty of finding one's place in the world. The lyrics speak to the idea that sometimes people feel lost and disconnected, almost like they are from a different planet or universe, all while existing under the same constellations as everyone else. The song's verses speak to the mundane struggles of everyday life that people often face and the challenges of trying to find meaning and purpose amidst the chaos.
The chorus reflects on the idea that people might never fully escape their limitations and barriers to true freedom, no more than birds or airplanes can ever truly fly away. The idea of not being able to escape the reality of one's existence is further explored in the second verse of the song. The lyrics suggest that if people are not able to hold on and maintain some sense of direction in their lives, they could become lost and scattered, wandering aimlessly without a clear sense of purpose or direction. Through this, the song touches on the human struggle to find meaning and direction in life while feeling lost and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
And we slept under constellations
We laid under the stars
Scattered in all kinds of combinations
The stars were arranged in various patterns
Wonderin' where in the hell it is we're even calling from
Pondering about our true origins
And like so many other people
Similar to almost everyone else
We're all such ordinary people
We are average individuals
Wonderin' how in the hell it is some days we get anything done
Reflecting on how we manage to accomplish tasks on certain days
And despite what they say we're not like birds or aeroplanes
Unlike popular belief, we cannot fly away like birds or planes
We never get to fly, fly, fly away
We are not granted the freedom to soar through the skies
And I know you always told me
I am aware that you have said to me before
From day one, you always told me
Since the beginning, you have consistently communicated to me
If you can't hold on, eventually, everything will run
If you cannot keep a firm grip, everything will slip away
And scatter in all directions
And spread out in various ways
And hide from the daylight's reflections
And avoid the reflections of the sun's light
That leaves you wonderin' where it is that you are even from
Resulting in confusion about your place of origin
And despite what they say we're not like birds or even aeroplanes
Despite popular belief, we are not like birds or planes
We'll never get to fly, fly, fly away
We will never have the opportunity to fly away
And despite what they say we'll never be like the aeroplanes
Regardless of what is said, we will never resemble planes
Lookin' at all the constellations
Observing the stars in the sky
Scattered in all kinds of combinations
Arranged in various patterns
Wonderin' where in the hell it is we're even calling from
Pondering about our true origins
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.