Bright Eyes: Poison Oak Meaning

Poison Oak Lyrics

Poison oak, some boyhood bravery
When the telephone was a tin can on a string
And I fell asleep with you still talking to me
You said you weren't afraid to die
In polaroids you were dressed in women's clothes
Were you made ashamed, why'd you lock...

1. anonymous

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   Jun 16th 2020 !⃝

   @ other anon yellow birds in mines were canaries, which would warn of trouble coming, I don't believe they were ever released to call for help, I don't think they would be able to use the elevator to go get help lmao.
   
   Someone mentioned the yellow bird being a reference to shakespeare but I can't find anything much on that, so I'd go more with the canary interpretation. Maybe this person was a sensitive soul, like how the canary was more sensitive to life than others around them, or perhaps something that should be free instead of caged inside a coal mine. Or maybe I'm looking too much into a single line lmao.
   
   Also I feel like it wasn't about a girl, either conor's cousin or a boyhood friend.
   
   I think this song is either about his cousin, or perhaps about a childhood friend he loved, or both. There's definitely a theme of figuring out one's identity and loss of innocence. And perhaps about finding happiness in memories of a person who met a bitter end, because that's the only way he can remember them (i.e. "The sound of loneliness makes me happier").
2. anonymous

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   Feb 28th 2017 !⃝

   Bad checks to fill your arms is not to do with drugs?
   and why poison oak?
3. anonymous

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   Feb 13th 2017 !⃝

   The way he sings "single cell on a serpent's tongue" is just beautiful. I get all excited and teary at the same time.
   The song is about how some people move away from their problems, and some people stay and face them, and the results of doing each.
4. anonymous

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   Sep 1st 2011 !⃝

   this song is about conor obersts cousin who killed himself. common knowledge.
   they grew up together. possibly a sexual identity problem that drove him to do it.
   the yellow bird is a common symbol he uses to speak about a long lost love that he will always love. yellow canaries were used back in the days when miners would get caught underground...they would release the birds to signal for help. the girl that is he yellow bird represents this to him.
   
   great song
5. anonymous

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   Jun 25th 2011 !⃝

   a gay boy whose family does not accept him and he finally gets the courage to move away
   

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