Shrillness in the Heated Grass
Yellow Eyes Lyrics

The opening lines of the song set the scene of a hot and oppressive day, with the air holding a sense of tension that is described as "shrillness." The reference to "seed shells" suggests a rural setting, perhaps a field or meadow, and the use of the word "radiance" implies a kind of heat-induced hallucination. The mention of an oligarch and a hunting stool gives a sense of the privileged class playing at being outdoorsmen, but the salted thistle in the oligarch's throat adds a note of discomfort or even danger.

The lyrics take on a more mysterious and surreal quality as the song progresses. References to ghosts and the "physics of the carpet pain" are not easily explained, but they suggest a dreamlike state in which the singer is experiencing strange and disorienting phenomena. The image of a nest against the oligarch's tent further suggests a blurring of boundaries between the natural and the man-made, with the mansion referenced later in the lyrics becoming symbolic of an attempt to shield oneself from the wilder forces at play.

Overall, the song evokes a feeling of unease and foreboding, with the heat and stillness of the day creating an oppressive atmosphere that is both physical and psychological. The oligarch's presence suggests a kind of colonial mentality or sense of entitlement, but his vulnerability to the thistle and the oppressive atmosphere hints at a world where such privilege may ultimately be futile.