Mykonos-Evan Shively

“Mykonos” is a song by the Fleet Foxes. It has been one of my favorite songs for a while now and recently I decided to read the lyrics in order to gain a better interpretation of the meaning to go along with the music. While reading the lyrics the close allusions to nature made me think of class. Upon doing some background research on the song, I learned that it is speculated that the song is about the writer’s brother who suffers from drug addiction. The verses often detail conflict due to the addiction such as the first verse which states;

The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us
Footsteps follow, down through the hollow sound, torn up

In contrast, the chorus details how the gentle landscape of the Island serves as a place of healing, reflection, and escape. In the chorus the brother uses the beautiful landscape of “Mykonos”, a Greek Isle known for its beauty and resort life as a place of healing.

And you will go to Mykonos
With a vision of a gentle coast
And a sun to maybe dissipate
Shadows of the mess you made

In the song the main character uses the gentle coast to rest, and the beautiful sun to hide his past mistakes. While the meaning might not be literal I found it incredibly interesting how the songwriter used the connection between landscape and healing we often discuss in class to illustrate his brother’s story.