The Laughing Man
Dying Laughing: St. Vincent's Poetic Reflections on Life's Ironies
Lyrics
9-1-1 (9-1-1, what's your emergency?)
Emergency call, expressing a feeling of urgency or crisis
I'm in love (I see, so how can I help you?)
Declaration of being in love
I can hear the angels sweeping
Perception of angels and their activity
So why do I feel like sleeping?
Contrast between angelic surroundings and a desire for sleep
Little birds, little birds
Reference to little birds singing happily
Chirp, chirp, chirp
Onomatopoeic representation of bird sounds
Singing like the day is perfect
Description of birds singing as if the day is perfect
But to me they sound psychotic
Personal interpretation of bird sounds as unsettling or crazy
I know you're gone
Acknowledgment of someone's absence
You left the scene
Confirmation of the person leaving the situation
Heaven had more important things
Suggesting a heavenly reason for the person's departure
But I can't sleep
Difficulty in sleeping despite the circumstances
I know you'd know exactly what I mean
Belief that the absent person would understand the current feelings
If life's a joke
Philosophical reflection on life being perceived as a joke
Then I'm dying laughing
Acceptance and humor in the face of life's challenges
Brown liquor
Mention of consuming brown liquor, possibly for coping
Why not? Sure
Casual attitude towards the choice of liquor
Like the heroines of Cassavetes
Comparison to heroines in Cassavetes' films, suggesting complexity
I'm underneath the influence daily
Admission of being under the influence on a daily basis
Remember when (remember when)
Nostalgic recollection of the past
We were kids (just kids)
Reference to a shared childhood with someone
Best of friends (best of friends)
Highlighting a strong friendship
All grass stains and chicken dinners
Memories of carefree moments and simple pleasures
Menthol mouths and secret stitches
Recalling physical injuries and shared secrets
Half pipes and PlayStations
Evoking memories of adolescence and shared activities
Suicidal ideation
Reference to dark thoughts or contemplation
I know you're gone
Confirmation of the person's departure from life
You dropped the scene
Stating the act of leaving the scene
Left all of your guitars to me
Inheritance of guitars as a memento
But I can't play
Inability to play the inherited guitars
I know you know exactly what I'm saying
Belief that the absent person would understand the current expression
If life's a joke
Reiteration of life being perceived as a joke, with humor in adversity
Then I'm dying laughing
Embracing laughter as a response to life's challenges
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