Eyepennies
Sparklehorse Lyrics

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I will return here one day
And dig up my bones from the clay
I buried nails and strings and hair
And that old tooth I believe was a bear's

I held my hand in the fire
It burned me down to the wires

Blood suckers hide beneath my bed
And black fumes of skin so gently bled
I slept with a cat on my breast
Slowing my heart stealing my breath

At sunrise the monkeys will fly
And leave me with pennies in my eyes

I will return here one day
And dig up my bones from the clay
I buried nails and string and hair
And that old tooth I believe was a bear's

At sunrise the monkeys will fly
And leave me with pennies in my eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "Eyepennies" by Sparklehorse is a haunting, introspective piece that explores themes of mortality, pain, and loss. The lyrics describe the singer's longing to return to a place where he has buried some of his possessions, including nails, strings, hair, and even what he believes to be a bear's tooth. Although he is not explicit about the reason for this burial, it could be interpreted as an attempt to leave a part of himself behind or a desire to be connected to the land in some way.

The second stanza describes the singer's physical and emotional pain. He held his hand in the fire, suggesting a self-destructive tendency. The bloodsuckers hiding beneath his bed could metaphorically represent his demons or worries. The cat on his breast could symbolize companionship and a desire for comfort, but also hints at the fragility of life. The imagery of black fumes gently bleeding from the skin is a disturbing but apt metaphor for suffering that is inwardly hidden but still visible.

The final stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic, with the assertion that monkeys will fly at sunrise, leaving the singer with pennies in their eyes. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, from a surrealistic representation of the transience of life to a metaphor for the unknown afterlife. Overall, the lyrics of "Eyepennies" suggest a longing for permanence in a world that is always changing and for something beyond the here and now.

Line by Line Meaning

I will return here one day
I plan to come back to this place at some point in the future

And dig up my bones from the clay
I will retrieve my remains from the soil

I buried nails and strings and hair
I interred metal, cords, and strands of my hair

And that old tooth I believe was a bear's
I am certain that a bear had that particular molar

I held my hand in the fire
I put my hand into the flames

It burned me down to the wires
My skin and nerves were completely destroyed

Blood suckers hide beneath my bed
Creatures that feast on blood lurk below my sleeping space

And black fumes of skin so gently bled
The scent of my epidermis emanates delicately into the air

I slept with a cat on my breast
I slumbered with a feline on my chest

Slowing my heart stealing my breath
It caused my heartbeat to decelerate and my breath to be taken away

At sunrise the monkeys will fly
Monkeys will soar through the sky at dawn