Vocals/Guitar: W. Skarstad
Guitar: S. Skarstad
Drums: M. Rekevics
Blue as Blue
Yellow Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As oil paint
As trim around the cedar door
He touched the ceiling in his helicopter
Once a day
And made it to his cedar bed
Exalted, bald
And keening like a royal bird
The dark flash of an airplane on the sun
Crickets pulled a midday thread
Behind his ears
And made it bright
The crops ballooned and split
Untouched
Red tubes and seeds
Black paper
Blue as blue
As oil paint
As damselflies below the cedar floor
The opening lines of "Blue as Blue" by Yellow Eyes explore the vivid imagery of various shades of blue, likening them to specific objects in the natural world. The color blue is compared to oil paint, trim, as well as the wings of damselflies below a cedar floor. The song takes on a melancholic tone as it delves deeper into the life of a man, who is described as having touched the ceiling in his helicopter just once a day before returning to his luxurious cedar bed. The image of him being bald and keening like a royal bird is a poignant symbol of his current state of isolation.
However, the song takes on a more ambiguous tone with the introduction of the dark flash of an airplane on the sun. The line "crickets pulled a midday thread behind his ears and made it bright" adds to the sense of isolation and internal conflict within the person, as if they are caught between two opposing forces. The visual of crops ballooning and splitting untouched, along with the description of red tubes and seeds and black paper, further adds to the theme of conflicting forces and a sense of dividedness.
The title "Blue as Blue" is a recurring motif throughout the song and adds to the overall emotional weight of the lyrics. While the song may seem enigmatic upon first listen, it is a powerful reflection on the human condition and the complex contradictions that we face in our daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue as blue
The color blue is being compared to itself, emphasizing its significance in the song.
As oil paint
The blue color is being compared to the texture and depth of oil paint.
As trim around the cedar door
The blue color is being compared to the trim around a cedar door, potentially showing the singer's fondness for nature and earth tones.
He touched the ceiling in his helicopter
A wealthy person is being described, as they own a helicopter and are able to touch the ceiling with it.
Once a day
The person in the helicopter touches the ceiling at a regular frequency, highlighting their luxurious lifestyle.
And made it to his cedar bed
The wealthy person lands their helicopter and goes to sleep in their cedar bed.
Exalted, bald
The person's appearance is being described as significant and notable, as they are bald and potentially idolized by others.
And keening like a royal bird
The person is making a pained, high-pitched noise like a bird royalty, possibly showing their discomfort or distress.
That nobody should see him anymore
The person may want to withdraw from public view for reasons unknown, so that nobody can see them anymore.
The dark flash of an airplane on the sun
An image of an airplane is presented, contrasted against the bright sun in the sky.
Crickets pulled a midday thread
The sound of crickets is described as pulling a thread in the middle of the day, further highlighting the natural imagery presented in the song.
Behind his ears
Unclear imagery used to describe part of the man's head. Appears to have little direct meaning.
And made it bright
The crickets emphasized a bright aspect, possibly showing the beauty in natural sounds.
The crops ballooned and split
The growing crops swelled and split, emphasizing the agrestic imagery of the song.
Untouched
The crops are untouched and wild, possibly showing their natural and undisturbed beauty.
Red tubes and seeds
Bright red tubes and seeds are present amidst the natural imagery, although their meaning is unclear.
Black paper
Unclear image that could be interpreted as anything from actual black paper to symbolism for the darkness in the world.
Blue as blue
The repetition of the opening line is used to once again emphasize the importance of the color blue in the song.
As oil paint
The blue color is again compared to the texture and depth of oil paint.
As damselflies below the cedar floor
Damselflies, small light-blue insects, are used to compare a color to in contrast with the cedar floor, creating a stunning and beautiful visual presence.
Contributed by Miles S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.