Shit-Hawk in the Snow
Moonface Lyrics


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Watching seagulls in the blizzard
Makes me see how much I miss her
Makes me wish for ignorant bliss
But I still know where my home is
Not unlike a shit-hawk in the snow

Engorged on portions of light
Smoking cigarettes like it's 2003
You watch her wipe the plate clean
And you see that the plate is the sea
As she lay down the mountain

And it will hypnotize you

Until the sacrificial animal
That you fashioned out of clay
As an offering that she may carry you home
Gives up its details to the dusk
And looks like any other rock
Accepting crow feathers from the night





And it will hypnotize you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Moonface's song "Shit-Hawk in the Snow" reveal a complicated set of emotions. The first verse speaks of seeing seagulls in a blizzard and feeling a sense of loss, wishing for ignorance while knowing where home is. The use of seagulls in a blizzard is a powerful image, signifying the idea of being lost in a hostile environment. The chorus ties in the metaphor of a "shit-hawk in the snow," which suggests the idea of feeling out of place, unsure of where to turn, and feeling an existential sense of detachment.


The second verse speaks of being engorged on portions of light and smoking cigarettes like it's 2003 – both of which are symbols of youth and vitality. The line "you watch her wipe the plate clean, and you see that the plate is the sea" is a metaphor for the transience of life. It speaks to the idea that everything is connected and that even the simplest things can have great significance. The verse then ends with an allusion to climbing a mountain and becoming hypnotized by the view.


The last verse speaks of a sacrificial animal made of clay, which is meant as an offering to the person the singer is addressing. The animal is supposed to serve as a means of being carried home, but it seems to fail in its purpose. The animal becomes indistinguishable from other rocks and is eventually consumed by night. The message of this verse is one of disillusionment and feeling hopeless.


Line by Line Meaning

Watching seagulls in the blizzard
The sight of seagulls in a snowstorm reminds me of how much I miss someone.


Makes me see how much I miss her
The seagulls trigger feelings of longing and nostalgia for someone I miss.


Makes me wish for ignorant bliss
The feelings of missing someone lead me to wish for a state of ignorance where I don't feel pain or longing.


But I still know where my home is
Despite my longing and nostalgia, I am still aware of where my true home is.


Not unlike a shit-hawk in the snow
I feel lost and out of place, like a scavenger bird in an unfamiliar landscape.


Engorged on portions of light
I am indulging in moments of happiness or joy.


Smoking cigarettes like it's 2003
I am engaging in nostalgic activities from a previous time in my life.


You watch her wipe the plate clean
I observe someone cleaning a plate after a meal.


And you see that the plate is the sea
I perceive the plate as a representation of something larger, like the vastness of the sea.


As she lay down the mountain
Someone is metaphorically laying down a mountain, perhaps overcoming a huge challenge.


And it will hypnotize you
This experience or vision is overwhelming and captivating, like being under hypnosis.


Until the sacrificial animal
A symbol of sacrifice, like an animal made of clay, becomes the focus.


That you fashioned out of clay
This sacrifice was created and crafted by me.


As an offering that she may carry you home
The sacrifice is intended to bring me closer to someone, like being carried home.


Gives up its details to the dusk
As night falls, the sacrifice reveals its true nature or meaning.


And looks like any other rock
The sacrifice now appears plain and insignificant, like a regular rock.


Accepting crow feathers from the night
The sacrifice becomes a receptacle for dark and ominous elements, like crow feathers.


And it will hypnotize you
The experience of the sacrifice and its transformation remains captivating, like being hypnotized.




Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Xavier Paquin

Oh, now I know - it ends as it should! Thanks!

Xavier Paquin

Dont know what happened to the vid but im glad it's back!

melt17

is this spencer krug? google tells me it is.  Good, better than sunset

Arctic Blast

A million "likes."

Matu

@xavierpaquin Yeah, I'm really sorry i fucked it up in the first place.

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