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Killdeer
This Is Deer Country Lyrics
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Grows a wildness that forgetfulness bred
And the thistle towering over me
I will sleep, I will sleep.
Thunder in the meadow where the killdeer cry
Feigned injury performed for the hungry eyed
And the hush that falls from the darkening air
You told my father you'd return for me
Ere the winter wind set the field to freeze
Now the cold has come twice without word of you
Not a whisper from the man I was promised to
I heard down the river you settled down
Wed a yellow haired woman in a satin gown
And her belly hangs heavy with a child of yours
Hangs heavy with the prize I'd waited for.
What evil have I done to account for this?
By my love forsaken, by my love dismissed.
And what evil must I do to bring reckoning?
For my faithfulness given, for my love spent.
In the corner of the field the farmer forgets
Yellow hair and blood matted to the thistle bed
Redemption is the name of the fruit I reap
Oh, I will sleep, I will sleep.
The song "Killdeer" by This Is Deer Country delves into themes of abandonment, betrayal, and redemption. In the first verse, the singer describes a field left untended by a farmer, which has grown wild and overgrown. This imagery is a metaphor for the singer's own experience of being forgotten and neglected by someone they trusted. The towering thistle, a symbol of resilience and endurance, is a place of solace where the singer can rest and escape from their troubles.
The second verse shifts to a scene of thunder in the meadow where the killdeer bird cries, using a feigned injury as a distraction to protect its young from predators. The killdeer's behavior reflects the singer's own sense of vulnerability and fear, as they are surrounded by danger and deception. The hush that falls from the darkening air, and the haze on the horizon, add to the ominous mood and sense of impending doom. The rain, a symbol of cleansing and renewal, is also a reminder of how the natural world can be both beautiful and unforgiving.
In the final verse, the singer confronts the person who betrayed them, accusing them of abandoning their promises and choosing someone else over them. The yellow-haired woman in a satin gown represents a life of luxury and ease that the singer was denied. The fact that she is pregnant with the man's child adds insult to injury, as the singer was unable to bear children with him. The singer's desire for revenge is palpable as they ask what evil they must do to bring reckoning for the pain they have endured. The word "redemption" in the final line suggests that the singer has found a way to transcend their suffering and find peace through their struggle.
Overall, "Killdeer" is a haunting and vivid portrait of a person who has been betrayed and abandoned, yet finds strength and solace in the natural world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
In the corner of the field the farmer forgets
Wild plants grow in the corner of the field that the farmer has neglected
Grows a wildness that forgetfulness bred
The wild plants in the corner of the field have thrived due to the farmer's neglect
And the thistle towering over me
The singer is surrounded by tall thistles
I will sleep, I will sleep.
The artist is tired and wants to rest
Thunder in the meadow where the killdeer cry
There is thunder and the sound of killdeer in the meadow
Feigned injury performed for the hungry eyed
The killdeer are pretending to be injured to distract predators from their young
And the hush that falls from the darkening air
The atmosphere becomes quieter as darkness falls
Haze on the horizon and the rain it bears
The artist sees a haze on the horizon that signals an approaching rainstorm
You told my father you'd return for me
Someone promised to come back for the artist
Ere the winter wind set the field to freeze
They promised to return before winter arrived
Now the cold has come twice without word of you
The singer's promised returner has not kept their promise for two winters
Not a whisper from the man I was promised to
The artist has not heard anything from the person who promised to return for them
I heard down the river you settled down
The singer heard that the person who promised to return has settled down somewhere else
Wed a yellow haired woman in a satin gown
They got married to someone with yellow hair who wore a satin gown
And her belly hangs heavy with a child of yours
The person who promised to return and their partner are expecting a child
Hangs heavy with the prize I'd waited for.
The artist was hoping to be the one to have a child with the person who promised to return
What evil have I done to account for this?
The artist wonders what they have done to deserve this situation
By my love forsaken, by my love dismissed.
The singer's love has been rejected and disregarded
And what evil must I do to bring reckoning?
The singer wonders what they need to do to get revenge
For my faithfulness given, for my love spent.
The artist feels that they have been faithful and loving
In the corner of the field the farmer forgets
The wild plants in the corner of the field continue to grow
Yellow hair and blood matted to the thistle bed
There is blood and yellow hair tangled in the thistles
Redemption is the name of the fruit I reap
The singer feels redeemed through their revenge
Oh, I will sleep, I will sleep.
The artist is tired but can now rest peacefully
Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.