Sisyphus
Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
About the Song
The song ruminates on the parable of sisyphus who is condemned to spend his existence pushing a great boulder up a never ending incline. Bird applies a modern nihilistic sensibility to sisyphus' predicament imagining a sisyphus who simply lets go of his burden and accepts the consequences. I cant help but speculate whether the song is written to express the feeling shared by many talented artists and creators; that often reaching a lifelong goal can result in a sort of emptiness and melancholy. This is reminiscent of philosopher Albert Camus' interpretation of the tale urging that “one must imagine sisyphus happy as he pushes the boulder” this interpretation is meant to highlight the absurdity and meaninglessness of the struggle with which he was condemned. Each of us feel a sense of disappointment when we overcome obstacles which define us. We must accept the absurdity of our situations and revel in the incomprehensible circumstances which allowed us to exist at all. The destination on the top of the mountain. but we are here, and the boulder is here perhaps we should just keep pushing, the meaning is projected onto the obstacle. it is up to us to smile through the filth and the sweat.