Meaning of "Saints Preservus" by Andrew Bird

"Saints Preservus" delves into the experience of feeling like a stranger in a place that should be familiar. The contrasting imagery of strip malls and beige asphalt, combined with the reference to the "trembling masses," suggests a generic and mundane landscape. The speaker is lost, disconnected, and searching for a sense of belonging in this seemingly ordinary world. The mention of the "soft-structured parking lot" as a shelter implies a desire for security and protection, even in an impersonal and artificial environment.

The repetition of being a stranger in a land that is "anything but strange" highlights the irony of feeling out of place in a society that should be familiar and predictable. It suggests a deeper yearning for a true sense of connection and understanding. The lines "bury me standing, bury me deep beneath the pylons" symbolize a desire for a rooted existence, with the pylons representing stability and support in an uncertain world. The act of burying oneself standing also indicates a refusal to be passive in the face of isolation and disconnection.

The metaphor of "groping in the dark with arms stretched out before me" captures the feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty. The plea to the saints to preserve the speaker emphasizes a longing for protection and salvation amidst the cracks and fissures of life. The reference to "fossiled fishes" implies a sense of being trapped in a past that no longer holds relevance or meaning, further reinforcing the speaker's disconnected state.

Ultimately, "Saints Preservus" encompasses the universal human desire for belonging and understanding. It highlights the paradoxical nature of feeling lost in a familiar landscape, and the search for solace and meaning in a world that often feels fragmented and uncertain.