What do you think Birdhouse in Your Soul means?

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They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul Meaning

Album cover for Birdhouse in Your Soul album cover

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...

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  1. anonymous
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     Jul 27th 2006 !⃝

    "Well, it's a song about a nightlight, dave. It might be a cute nightlight in some people's eyes, I don't know. That's pretty much the whole story of the song, though. It's about a nightlight."
    -john linnell

  2. anonymous
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     Jul 20th 2006 !⃝

    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
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     Jul 20th 2006 !⃝

    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.

  4. anonymous
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     Jul 12th 2006 !⃝

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

  5. anonymous
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     Apr 16th 2006 !⃝

    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
  6. anonymous
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     Mar 24th 2006 !⃝

    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
  7. anonymous
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     Jan 20th 2006 !⃝

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

  8. anonymous
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     Sep 4th 2005 !⃝

    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.

  9. anonymous
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     Aug 26th 2005 !⃝

    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.

  10. anonymous
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     Aug 18th 2005 !⃝

    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
  11. Jeff3417
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     Oct 21st 2003 !⃝

    The song is about a nightlight

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