Meaning of "50 Pieces" by Andrew Bird

The lyrics of "50 Pieces" by Andrew Bird convey a deep sense of longing and isolation. The speaker reflects on the absence of a significant person who has been away for an extended period, leading to a feeling of disconnection from the world around them. The refusal of "Frau ecstasy" to sit down for tea symbolizes the coldness and distance that have come between the speaker and this person. The imagery of an old man in overalls tending to his cows licking ice off the stable walls highlights the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The repetition of the offer for tea and the refusal in German ("Nein") underscores the sense of rejection and isolation that the speaker feels. Overall, the lyrics evoke a poignant exploration of loss, solitude, and the difficulty of reconnecting with someone who has been absent for too long.