Meaning of "Chinese House Flowers" by The Mountain Goats

The lyrics of "Chinese House Flowers" evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost love. The imagery of the wax paper melting over the windows symbolizes the fading of past memories that can never be recaptured. The misty, dream-like quality of the dim light filtering through highlights the haziness of memory, where the past appears in fragments. The reference to following the other person down signifies a desire to understand their motives and emotions, even if it means delving into unknown or possibly dangerous territory. The encounter with a winged shadow in the dark reflects a sense of foreboding or impending change, hinting at a loss of innocence or a darker aspect of the relationship. The final lines about pressing against the other person and feeling their heartbeat convey a sense of intense emotion and physical closeness, juxtaposed with the realization that things can never return to the way they were. Overall, the lyrics capture the bittersweet nature of remembering a past love and accepting that it can never be fully resurrected.