Bluejays and Cardinals

Bluejays and Cardinals
Album	The Coroner's Gambit
Released	2000
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	3:03
Previous Track	"Onions"
Next Track	"Shadow Song"

"Bluejays and Cardinals" is the 11th song on the album The Coroner's Gambit.

Lyrics

Bluejays and cardinals all come out to play
The highway traffic gets out of your way
Skies clear up if they're overcast
Pit bulls are gentle when you come past
Stars come out of hiding for you
And I would too

But this world couldn't hold you
You slipped free
Yeah this world couldn't hold you
You slipped free
Without me

The new sheen all over everything
When you open up your mouth to sing
Baseballs travel further when you watch them fly
Apples fatten on the trees when you walk by
You bring something unreplaceable to each and every day
Or you used to anyway

But this world couldn't hold you
And you slipped free
Yeah this world couldn't hold you
You slipped free
Without me

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "This is a song that we keep trying to play and I keep reading the lyrics. Which is really sad, because –– one, it's just sad on general principles, and two, it's kind of an emotional song, and so when a guy forgets the lyrics to a song that he was actually, you know, trying to share something he feels, you wonder, Wow, he must be gonna die pretty soon. Oh man ... and then like now, because the first time we did it, in LA, it was like the most colossal fuck-up of all time. Right up there with the first [time a guy?] yelled "Free Bird" at a show. Now I just have this massive stage fright. It would be hilarious if I just, like, ran offstage. What the hell is the first line in this one? Oh, I know what it is." –– 2005-05-04 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA

Things Referenced in this Song

• This song, like Shadow Song, is about the passing of Rozz Williams, the original vocalist for southern California death-rock band Christian Death and a friend of John Darnielle's. In 2005-05-04 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA, Darnielle says "This world couldn't hold you, Rozz!"

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2005-05-04 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
• 2012-12-12 - Masonic Lodge - Hollywood Forever Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA
• 2018-11-15 - Ars Cameralis Festival - Kinoteatr Rialto - Katowice, Poland
• 2020-02-21 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA

Videos of this Song

• 2012-12-12 - Masonic Lodge - Hollywood Forever Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA