Persona Non Grata by Bright Eyes

Album: Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was (2020)

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Unwelcome in the autumn
Persona non grata
I'm the last of the best

A "Persona non grata" is Latin for a person who is unappreciated. When a diplomatic representative becomes no longer acceptable to the government to which he is accredited, he is no longer persona grata, which effectively is a request for his recall.
Conor Oberst admitted that though the lyrics for this melancholic song make sense to him, many will find it difficult to connect the dots. "To some people it might just sound like words scrambled, but to me there is a logical progression to it all," he explained to NME. "If you boil it down, it's some of attempt at forgiveness or redemption. It's about a ceasefire amongst yourself and the world. It's a wish list of things that I wish could be settled – but maybe it's too late."
"Persona Non Grata" is Bright Eyes' first new material since their 2011 album, The People's Key. It is also their first single since signing to Dead Oceans. Oberst said it "seemed as good of a place as any to start" in sharing their new work. "And it has bagpipes!" he added. "Which is a first for us."

Comments: 1

Pyffer from WiscoI'm just a guy that lives in his late mother's house next to the church/homeless shelter after coming home from the military. Willing to jump into a relationship with a seemingly fair woman, I found she had extremely detrimental effects on my mental health due to her abandonment issues that she vehemently denied. She claimed that I was insane and bipolar for feeling the way I did when she blew up on me(until I finally called it off).. then she disclosed her traumatic childhood experiences to me so that I would stay. Guilt for leaving, promising things would change, suicidal threats, anything.. I can't leave. 'Tomorrow will be the day', I say to myself....every single day.
When I forgive everything in the past it backfires on me and I'm blamed for how I handled our previous situations. But then I'm told I'm the most patient and kind person she's ever met and she can't imagine her life without me. Yet it's abusive for me and I cant just leave.
So take my story and try to understand how I interpret this song. It's a sort of solace to me to hear someone so successful convey these lyrics.
- Cody

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