Hummingbirds
Knapsack Lyrics

The lyrics of Knapsack's song, "Hummingbirds," describe a sense of disappointment and melancholy associated with the passage of time and the complexities of relationships. The first stanza exemplifies this with the line, "In the face of this, we're calling off the kiss, and you sang 'higher,'" which indicates a moment of attempted affection that falls flat, leaving the singer feeling unsatisfied. The following lines connect this to a more general feeling of discontent, observing that even looking good is not enough to alleviate the sadness that haunts them.

The chorus introduces the motif of hummingbirds, describing their winding down in a way that is metaphorically resonant with the themes of the song. The hummingbird is known for its frenetic energy and movement, and thus the image of one winding down connotes a loss of vigor and vitality. This could represent the relationships that the singer is struggling with, as well as their own sense of direction in life. The next few stanzas emphasize this sense of decline, with references to crumbling clay bricks, failing vision, and thinning ranks.

In the final stanza, the song shifts towards a more general meditation on the nature of existence, with the line "stars are never right" suggesting a sense of cosmic disorder. The final lines, "there are places I can hide in this world," suggest that despite the disappointments described throughout the song, there exists a certain amount of hope and possibility for the future. Overall, "Hummingbirds" is a poignant exploration of the difficulties of navigating relationships and existence in a world that always seems to be in flux.