Since 2006, Matsson has released four full-length albums and two EPs. He records and produces these in his home, and usually records his voice and guitar together on one track. He is known both by his fans and his enemies for his charismatic stage presence.
Critics have compared The Tallest Man on Earth to Bob Dylan both in terms of songwriting ability and vocal style. When asked about his lyrical style, Matsson explains that he began listening to Bob Dylan at fifteen, and upon hearing Dylan's cover material, he "tried to figure out where those songs came from" and became slowly exposed to early American folk, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. But he is careful to qualify this, saying "I don't consider my work to be a part of any tradition. This is how I play. This is how I write songs."
With regard to his guitar technique, Matsson uses a variety of open tunings, and standard tuning to a lesser degree. He had classical guitar training in his youth, but says he "never really focused on it" and that by the end of high school he "got bored playing guitar because it was like math", until he then discovered open tunings while listening to Nick Drake in his early twenties. He was drawn to this style of playing because it allowed him to focus on singing while still performing intricate music.
He was previously married to Amanda Bergman, also known by the stage name Idiot Wind. Together, they wrote the music for the Swedish drama film Once a Year.
Where Do My Bluebird Fly
The Tallest Man on Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know our song is over and heavy as I see dry leaves fallin' down, oh
With all this fever in my mind, I could drown in your kerosene eyes
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
And as the early sign of dawn of thunder I see you stir the fog around
And when you find the boys and gears of sunset we'll hear that high and lonesome sound, oh
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
Oh, well I know you soak your feathers baby upon the ghosts along my trail
And I know well I was sole and buried before I knew it was for sale, oh
With all this fever in my mind I could aim for your kerosene eyes
Oh, you're just a target in the sky
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
The lyrics of Where Do My Bluebird Fly by The Tallest Man on Earth present a longing for a lost love, with the singer questioning the whereabouts of this love and lamenting over the unrequited affection. The opening lines of the song describe a disruption caused by the person, who shakes up the set-up, and leads to the fall of dry leaves. This indicates the end of the relationship or the initial attraction that had started to develop. The singer is aware of the fact that the song they had sung together is over and they are left with the memories, which now feel heavy, as dry leaves falling down.
The reference to the "fever in my mind" suggests the intensity of emotions that the singer is grappling with. He feels like he could drown in the eyes of his love, which are compared to kerosene, burning fiercely. However, this person is still a riddle, hard to understand, mysterious, and probably out of reach. The questions "where do my bluebirds fly?" signify the confusion, desperation, and yearning of the singer, looking for answers that might never come.
The second verse mentions the stirring of the fog at dawn and the sound of high and lonesome gears of sunset. The sunset here may symbolize the end of the relationship, the gears signifying the finality and the cogs of a machine moving on relentlessly, but the sound is high and lonesome, conveying a feeling of yearning and despair. The singer is willing to question every wind, even though it might be futile to try to understand the love that has gone. The reference to bluebirds adds a touch of nostalgia and yearning for happier times.
The last verse talks of how the singer could aim for the kerosene eyes of his love as they had soaked their feathers on this person's trail. This could either mean that the love was unrequited, and the singer felt alone or that the love was so intense that he was willing to pay a price for it. The reference to the bluebirds again emphasizes the longing and the search for something that is gone. The song leaves the audience with a sense of melancholy, yearning, and a lack of closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, well I knew you shook the set-up baby, of all the leaves up in the ground
I understand that you have disrupted everything around me, causing chaos and confusion.
And I know our song is over and heavy as I see dry leaves fallin' down, oh
Our relationship has come to an end, and it's a weight on my shoulders as everything begins to collapse and crumble.
With all this fever in my mind, I could drown in your kerosene eyes
My thoughts are consumed by you and it's overwhelming, like staring into flames that could consume me.
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
You're a mystery to me, shrouded in enigma and uncertainty.
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
Where do the things that bring me joy and happiness go when everything falls apart?
And as the early sign of dawn of thunder I see you stir the fog around
Even in the midst of a storm, I see you stirring things up and causing even more chaos.
And when you find the boys and gears of sunset we'll hear that high and lonesome sound, oh
As the sun sets and darkness approaches, we'll hear the sound of loneliness and despair.
And I will question every wind if they gone through the glow of your eyes
I'll constantly be wondering if anyone else has gone through the same emotional turmoil that you've put me through.
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
Once again, you're an enigma to me, and I can't figure you out.
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
Where do the things that make me happy go when everything else is falling apart and nothing makes sense?
Oh, well I know you soak your feathers baby upon the ghosts along my trail
I know that you've taken on the pain and suffering of my past and it's brought you down.
And I know well I was sole and buried before I knew it was for sale, oh
I was alone and buried in my pain before I realized that I could sell it to you and make you feel it too.
With all this fever in my mind I could aim for your kerosene eyes
My thoughts are feverish and overwhelming, and I could easily become consumed by your fiery, destructive eyes.
Oh, you're just a target in the sky
You're something to aim for, something that I want to understand and comprehend but can't quite grasp.
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
Once again, where do the things that bring me joy and happiness go when everything else is falling apart?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kristian Matsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nicolenicolerson5200
My son loved this song. He died when he was 17, and I played this at his funeral. This was in Texas with very Christian people and I don't think anyone understood the song, my friend told me later that people looked confused. But it made sense to me and my daughter, who chose it. Still devastates me to hear this, but today I decided to power through it and listen again.
@sisyr5615
So sorry to hear that. Its a beautiful song though, hopefully it will give you joy one day instead like it did your son.
@nakenmil
My sincere condolances. You did right by your son, for what it's worth.
@NewMatildaDotCom
I’m sorry for your loss. ❤
@flakaflakaadoo
Doesn’t sound like they were very Christ like. 🤷♂️
@alexcarrasco7491
Made me cry brother.... God bless ur heart and ur sons.. u will see him again ❤
@pablosantaella280
This is legit one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my entire life
@81dsend
I concur, it's ok to cry.
@joestebbing2464
8on
@madurosfinancialadvisor1360
It's a shame it's not a legit recording