They Might Be Giants: Birdhouse in Your Soul Meaning

Song Released: 1990

Birdhouse in Your Soul Lyrics

I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul...

1. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 20th 2006 report

   I agree this song's about a nightlight, or light in general, but it gets me thinking about how we can't survive without it. Light, I mean. It keeps us safe, makes us feel safe, all that jazz. It also seems to be a metaphor for morality, or conscience, and the like.
   
   Gets me thinking of the weakerthans' "a plea from a cat named virtue", a song from the point of view of something non-human that has much more beneath the surface.
   I love John linnell.
2. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 20th 2006 report

   I agree this song's about a nightlight, or light in general, but it gets me thinking about how we can't survive without it. Light, I mean. It keeps us safe, makes us feel safe, all that jazz. It also seems to be a metaphor for morality, or conscience, and the like.
   
   Gets me thinking of the weakerthans' "a plea from a cat named virtue", a song from the point of view of something non-human that has much more beneath the surface.
   I love John linnell.
3. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 12th 2006 report

   Friends of mine have a TMBG nightlight. I think that about says it all.
4. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 16th 2006 report

   Okay, I'm just gonna look at the first verse.
   
   I'm your only friend
   I'm not your only friend
   But I'm a little glowing friend
   But really I'm not actually your friend
   But I am
   
   It is nicely constructed and seems confusing. It's not.
   
   "I'm your only friend."
   
   Someone mentioned that the light could be your conscience. That sounds good. It could also be your Ego, but my Ego isn't always my friend.
   
   If we except was is said as reality and fact and come from a background of one God, then I would say that God is my only friend, but that's not completely right so we come to the second line.
   
   "I'm not your only friend"
   
   I have lots of friends, not just God.
   
   "But I'm a little glowing friend"
   
   God warms our hearts. He is definitely more special to us than our Earthly friends. Again this is under the primace that you love God.
   
   "But really I'm not actually your friend"
   
   Here's a nicely confusing line under the primace I've taken, but let me explain. In reality God is far more than a friend, and we limit Him in our own minds if that is all we call Him.
   
   "But I Am"
   
   This is a nice pun. It is the name of God, and it still says that He is our friend. That isn't all He is. He is our God.
   
   Hope you've enjoyed my interpritation of verse 1.
   
   Peace,
   
   Humblik

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Mar 24th 2006 report

   OMG, this song is about a nightlight why else would there be a nightlight in the video plus the nightlight is a metaphor for like your guardian angel or something that will always be keeping you safe or by your side. The reference is in the song like a guardian angel I'm always near omg you people smell and suck at song interpretation lol and the original writer of the interpretation, wtf mate, you have like 3 words "its a song about a nightlight" ok 4 words but god get more info I rate the song 5 but your interpretation -1000000000 ok -_-

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jan 20th 2006 report

   I think you're all right. Either way great song :o)
7. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Sep 4th 2005 report

   They Might Be Giants will either be blunt on the song meaning (such as why does the sun shine?) or they will hide the meaning. A nightlight is a conscience is just for a young child who is afraid of the dark. IT will Keep them feeling good and safe.
8. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Aug 26th 2005 report

   But the song is about a nightlight. It can be a metaphor for the conscience, or one of the many interpretations, but the conceit is still based on a nightlight.
9. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Aug 18th 2005 report

   I'm so sorry but this song is not about a nightlight. It has been interpretend many ways. Although this song is about your conscience. The little cricket that tells you what is good The little light inside of you.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
10. Jeff3417

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5

    click a star to vote

    Oct 21st 2003 report

    The song is about a nightlight

Latest Articles

• 
  Song Picks From Johnny Depp Film Soundtracks
• 
  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2022
• 
  Gen X Got All the Killer TV Theme Tunes
• 
  My Music Story : Cage the Elephant
• 
  Earth Day 2022 Music Potpourri
• 
  Five Movie Musicals For Normal People