The Shocking Lyrics of the Twilight Prom Scene Song


Video Courtesy of subpoprecords

The romantic music and the softly gurgled sung lyrics of Flightless Bird American Mouth lulled me into thinking it had romantic lyrics, especially since it is prominently used in the Twilight prom scene when Bella and Edward dance together.

I usually understand the ‘Have I found you’ part, which seemed so apropos; but, when I looked up the rest of the song’s lyrics, I was taken aback with most of the lyrics such as ‘Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks, Pissing on magazine photos.’

Consequently, the song has lost most of its charm for me. Now I’m thinking that I want more thematic lyrics that would be more appropriate with the Twilight saga. And then I’ll find a band willing to put music to it. LOL. I’m writing the New Moon Unofficial Film Script, Midnight Sun type entries for The Robert Pattinson Diaries, and, now, I’m adding this. Harharhar!!! Have I gone partially insane?

Lyrics of Flightless Bird American Mouth Courtesy of metro lyrics by Iron and Wine

I was a quick wet boy, diving too deep for coins
All of your street light eyes wide on my plastic toys
Then when the cops closed the fair, I cut my long baby hair
Stole me a dog-eared map and called for you everywhere

Have I found you
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, American mouth
Big pill looming

Now I’m a fat house cat
Nursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold
And clean blood of Christ mountain stream

Have I found you
Flightless bird, grounded, bleeding or lost you, American mouth
Big pill stuck going down

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 8:01 am and is filed under Twilight Saga Lyrics . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

17 Responses to “The Shocking Lyrics of the Twilight Prom Scene Song”

  • Twilight Luvr Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    I have an unrelated question. I’ve watched the movie a couple times and I’m curious… does anyone know where the Linkin Park song is in the movie? All of the other songs I can place except for that one…

  • Mona Says:
    February 4th, 2009 at 8:01 am

    It’s the last song, after 15 Step by Radiohead and Decode by Paramore.

  • tomris Says:
    March 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    If I remember correctly, it played at the end of the movie when the cast and other writings were shown. I clearly remember listening it while leaving the theatre.

  • Isabel Says:
    April 4th, 2009 at 10:40 am

    I thought I read somewhere that Kristen suggested this prom song because she didn’t care for the one that was chosen. I’ve only seen the movie once and all I remember is the “I’ve found you” part of this song! LOL…the lyrics are quite so opposite of how the scene unfolded!

  • edbellrobkris Says:
    April 12th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    yeah, but despite the lyrics, i think that was one of the best song i’ve ever listened to.

  • Emma Says:
    April 13th, 2009 at 5:19 am

    The lyrics are all about pollution, there is a message. They arent ugly lyrics at all, theyre very truthful. And Kristen chose them – a wise choice i would say. There is nothing wrong with the lyrics at all. The scene is perfect, song included.

  • twilight Says:
    May 31st, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Hi. I would like to apologize to the lady who asked who sang the prom song. I accidentally deleted your comment. Sorry.

    Anyway, the group that performs this song call themselves Iron & Wine :-)

  • Savannah Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    So… what exactly are the lyrics saying? Like everyone else, I thought it was a really sweet, fitting song because all I understood was “have I found you.” Someone said something about pollution? I don’t get it. What do they mean and how are they supposed to fit the scene?

  • Leila Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    Wow That was a TRUE Shock .. I never thought the Lyrics would be anything like this .. Wow Kristen YOu’re kind of nuts ..Sorry ! But the Song is Beautiful ..It’s a quirky Choice ..but a good one at the same time !

  • Jules Says:
    July 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    Ew, that’s a really disgusting song!

  • Kristie Says:
    July 24th, 2009 at 2:51 am

    This song is NOT disgusting at all. It is more of a lament about lost things but has a love theme in the undercurrents. Sam Beam (Iron&Wine) doesn’t come out with what he’s saying in his songs, which, in my opinion, makes them even more beautiful. Use your imagination or just do a little research and I think you too will find that this song truly is beautiful and very powerful.

    I must also add that I’m sort of biased as Iron & Wine is my favorite band and this is one of my favorite songs. =]. I was very pleased that Kristen Stewart picked this song to put in the movie =]

  • Aliciaa Says:
    October 31st, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    I know some of the lyrics don’t fit the scene other than that chorus but its not “Pissing on magazine photos” is “Kissing on magazine photos” if it makes anyone feel better!

  • Lorna Lopez Says:
    December 19th, 2009 at 11:58 am

    From an ATK reader who wishes to be anonymous. Sent via email.

    I couldn’t find the link anymore but i found this way, way before in the Imeem site, where i saw somebody posted this on the page of the many “Flightless BIrd” song posted there. This is the exact way that commenter posted it. The reason for this is when i saw the post about the said song and i wanted to share the true meaning behind the lyrics. Well not really true but it does make sense right? And this song became one of my favorite songs when i first heard it in the movie and i fell in love more when i saw this. =)

    Well this is just FYI. Just want ot share this with you. =)

    “This is what the song “Flightless Brid” is trying to say:

    I was a quick wet boy diving too deep for coins:
    He was a guy that was hard to get and only cared for money,

    All of your streetlight eyes, Wide on my plastic toys:
    Everyone only saw him for what he had though.

    Then when the cops closed the fair:
    Then he realized he wanted love

    I cut my long baby hair:
    he decided to grow up.

    Stole me a dog-eared map:
    He realized what he wanted

    And called for you everywhere:
    and started searching for her

    Have I found you:
    has he found it?

    flightless bird:
    this fragile helpless thing could it be her?

    Jealous, weeping:
    he is jealous and sad.

    Or lost you:
    Or is he to late?

    American mouth:
    are is she spoken for?

    Big pill, looming:
    the thought is hard to swallow

    Now I’m a fat house cat:
    Now he is happy he can have all he wants

    Nursing my sore blunt tongue:
    can finally get some rest he don’t have to call for her anymore.

    Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks:
    he watching the other girls try to tell her lies so the can get in.

    Kissing on magazines photos:
    He knows it’s lies

    those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean:
    so no matter how much the girls try the are fishing without bate

    Blood of Christ mountain stream:
    Because what he has is very pure.

    Have I found you:
    So is she the one?

    Flightless bird:
    this unlikely creature

    grounded:
    he is not going anywhere

    bleeding:
    He would rather get hurt

    or lost you:
    Well he loss her?

    american mouth:
    will she find another and be spoken for

    Big pill stuck going down:
    that would be to hard to swallow”

  • Lala Says:
    December 19th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Wow. Well that explains why Kristen chose this song for the prom scene. Awesome as always Lorna :D Thanks for sharing and thanks to the anonymous sender as well.

  • twihard Says:
    March 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 am

    wow!!jus luv the true meaning bhind da lyrics coz didnt undrstnd at 1st..i now luv da song!!!

  • Gena M Says:
    March 3rd, 2010 at 1:41 am

    Wow!!! Thanks, Lorna! Great explanation!

  • MiriamGMendes Rio de Janeiro Says:
    November 18th, 2011 at 5:20 am

    This ‘incoherence’ reminds me of a dear friend of mine who, a long time ago, called me in a total-frustration mood, just to tell me that he had just found out that the song by Michael Jackson “Ben”, that he loved and used to dance, tight (really close) to beautiful girls whenever he heard its first notes at any ball he happened to be at, related to a HAMSTER!! Well, he felt a bit better when I told him about the feeling of losing someone he (Michael) loved. The beauty of the song was precisely this feeling…not the animal, its charm and likeability notwithstanding! ;) I for one love hamsters!

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