Fickle Cycle

Fickle Cycle starts with a portrayal of youth and the carefree yet naive spirit associated with it. In lines like 'Tykes who feast but do not pray' and imagery of sun-dyed grains and geese leaving their house, there's an undercurrent of growth and inevitability. Youth is ephemeral, yet it’s steeped in innocence and a lack of concern for what's to come.

The song transitions into a meditation on mortality and the unseen, suggesting a respectful coexistence with the ghosts of the past and the mysteries of life. The instructions to 'Believe in ghosts and set them free' and to 'Give your teeth to the crocodile cave' imply a surrender to forces greater than oneself, to let go of control, and to contribute to life's larger, more enigmatic cycle.

Amidst these reflections comes a portrayal of connection and aspiration, with desires for offspring who embody the traits of resilience and emotion—'I want a son who can float and fly / I’ll take a daughter who laughs and cries.' This acknowledges the human propensity to look forward and find meaning in future generations, leaving a legacy that might transcend the temporal constraints felt by the individual.

The narrative ultimately touches on the inevitability of loss and the impermanence of everything held dear. The acknowledgment that 'One day our homes will all fall down / One day your body will be in the ground' is sobering. The song doesn't wallow but meets these facts with a sense of peaceful acceptance.