Poor Moon is a band composed of Christian Wargo, Casey Wescott and Ian and … Read Full Bio ↴Poor Moon is a band composed of Christian Wargo, Casey Wescott and Ian and Peter Murray. Poor Moon is a side project of Wargo and Wescott who are current members of Fleet Foxes,they remain full members Fleet Foxes while maintaining their separate project with Poor Moon.Poor Moon are signed to record label Bella Union (UK) and Sub Pop Records. The band Poor Moon are named after lead singer Christian Wargo's favourite song by Canned Heat. The band's debut EP, Illusion, was released in March 2012

Phantom Light
Poor Moon Lyrics

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A candle burns by an old man's chair
Burns on and on, but there's no one there
The light that comes from the old man's home
They say
Started when he passed away

Sits right there on the old man's desk
Pass days and weeks, hasn't burned out yet

That candle fire by the dead man's chair
So strange
Wonder how it burns that way

Oh, what a cursed and blessed sight
Possessed, enchanted phantom light
It shines so small and it burns so bright
And strange
Don't know how it burns that way

That candle fire by the dead man's chair

They say
Ever since he passed away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Poor Moon's song "Phantom Light" paint a haunting image of an old man's home that is still somehow illuminated even after his death. A candle burns incessantly by the old man's chair, and the light that emanates from it is said to have started after his passing. Despite days and weeks passing by, the candle has not burned out yet, and its eerie flame dances in the darkness of the old man's home. The lyrics then describe the puzzling nature of the candle's fire, questioning how it is able to continue to burn in such an unnatural way.

The chorus of the song heightens the haunting elements of the lyrics, describing the light as both "cursed and blessed" and "possessed" while also noting how it "shines so small and it burns so bright." The line "don't know how it burns that way" emphasizes that the candle's flame defies explanation and logic. The lyrics end on a somber note, with the reminder that the candle fire has burned on ever since the old man's passing.

Taken together, these lyrics paint a picture of a home that has been imbued with the lingering spirit of its former resident. The image of the candle burning on and on despite the old man's absence makes for a haunting and memorable image.

Line by Line Meaning

A candle burns by an old man's chair
There is a candle that is lit near the chair of an elderly gentleman

Burns on and on, but there's no one there
The candle continues to burn even though there is no one present

The light that comes from the old man's home They say Started when he passed away
The source of the light in the old man's house is said to have originated after he passed away

Sits right there on the old man's desk Pass days and weeks, hasn't burned out yet
The candle is placed on the desk of the elderly man and continues to burn for several days and weeks without being extinguished

So strange Wonder how it burns that way
It is peculiar and mysterious how this candle can burn continuously without any apparent intervention

Oh, what a cursed and blessed sight Possessed, enchanted phantom light
This strange light is seen as both a blessing and a curse, as it appears to be otherworldly or supernatural

It shines so small and it burns so bright And strange Don't know how it burns that way
Although the flame is small, it burns very brightly and continues to do so without explanation or reason

That candle fire by the dead man's chair They say Ever since he passed away
The candle has been burning since the old man died, giving the impression that his spirit or presence may still be present in some way

Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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