Joanna Newsom - Swansea Lyrics






If you wanna come on down
Down with your bones so white
And watch while the freight trains pound
Into the wild wild night

How I would love to gnaw
Gnaw on your bones so white
And watch as the freight trains paw
Paw at the wild wild night

All these ghost towns
Wreathed in old loam
Assateague knee-
Deep in seafoam
Ho, swansea!
Buttonwillow!
Lagunitas!
Ho, calico!

And all these beastly bungalows
Stare distend like endless toads
Endlessly hop down the road
Borne by wind we southward blow

And yonder, wild and blue
The wild blue yonder looms
'Til we are wracked with rheum
By roads, by songs entombed

And all we wanna do
Is chew and chew and chew

Dear one
Drive on

When all we wanna do
Is chew and chew and chew

And if you wanna come on down
Down with your bones so white
And watch the freight trains pound
Into the wild wild night

How I would love to gnaw
To gnaw on your bones so-o white
And watch while the freight trains paw
Paw at the wild wild night

Paw at the wild wild night
Paw at the wild wild night





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Joanna Newsom Swansea Comments
  1. R.... P....

    Ethereal Perfection

  2. K.... B....

    How does this not have over a million views?

  3. M.... B....

    If you wanna come on down
    Down with your bones so white
    And watch while the freight trains pound
    Into the wild wild night

    How I would love to gnaw
    Gnaw on your bones so white
    And watch as the freight trains paw
    Paw at the wild wild night

    All these ghost towns
    Wreathed in old loam
    Assateague knee-
    Deep in seafoam
    Ho, swansea!
    Buttonwillow!
    Lagunitas!
    Ho, calico!

    And all these beastly bungalows
    Stare distend like endless toads
    Endlessly hop down the road
    Borne by wind we southward blow

    And yonder, wild and blue
    The wild blue yonder looms
    'Til we are wracked with rheum
    By roads, by songs entombed

    And all we wanna do
    Is chew and chew and chew

    Dear one
    Drive on

    When all we wanna do
    Is chew and chew and chew

    And if you wanna come on down
    Down with your bones so white
    And watch the freight trains pound
    Into the wild wild night

    How I would love to gnaw
    To gnaw on your bones so-o white
    And watch while the freight trains paw
    Paw at the wild wild night

    Paw at the wild wild night
    Paw at the wild wild night

  4. l.... /....

    Endlessly hop down the road, borne by wind we southward blow and yonder wild and blue, the wild blue yonder looms, till we are racked with ruin, by roads by songs entombed.

  5. d.... c....

    FFFFFFFFffffffffffffff

  6. P.... R....

    Just listen without prejudice. This is what original music sounds like.

  7. T.... ....

    If Bombay Bicycle Club brought you here then you should just go and....enjoy the song. You have excellent taste by the way. Isn't it great that the work of good musicians can lead you to discover other good music?  Isn't it nice that both versions of this song are different and beautiful in their own way? This way there's no need to take sides over which is better or start insulting other people's musical preferences and we can share two great songs from two great artists and all babe better for it :) :) :) :) :) :)

    Oh wait, YouTube commenters tend to be spiteful arseholes. Nevermind then.

    T.... ....

    I never comment on youtube videos but ty for not being a piece of shit

  8. R.... S....

    Is everyone pretending they like this?? What the hell this is weird

    R.... S....

    @Ryan Smith Joanna Newsom isn't for everyone. I can say that for every ten people I meet that have heard her or allowed me to show her to them, I'm lucky if even one of them does. Now everybody listens to different artists for different reasons, so I can't speak for everyone.. But there's a unique quality in Joanna's music that makes her ages better than the other artists in the singer-songwriter genre. Her use of the harp, her remarkable ability as a lyricist and her incredibly unique singing voice makes for a music experience that is not easily replicated.

  9. L.... B....

    LYRICS:
    If you wanna come on down
    Down with your bones so white
    And watch while the freight trains pound
    Into the wild wild night

    How I would love to gnaw
    Gnaw on your bones so white
    And watch as the freight trains paw
    Paw at the wild wild night

    All these ghost towns
    Wreathed in old loam
    Assateague knee-
    Deep in seafoam
    Ho, swansea!
    Buttonwillow!
    Lagunitas!
    Ho, calico!

    And all these beastly bungalows
    Stare distend like endless toads
    Endlessly hop down the road
    Borne by wind we southward blow

    And yonder, wild and blue
    The wild blue yonder looms
    'Til we are wracked with rheum
    By roads, by songs entombed

    And all we wanna do
    Is chew and chew and chew

    Dear one
    Drive on

    When all we wanna do
    Is chew and chew and chew

    And if you wanna come on down
    Down with your bones so white
    And watch the freight trains pound
    Into the wild wild night

    How I would love to gnaw
    To gnaw on your bones so-o white
    And watch while the freight trains paw
    Paw at the wild wild night

    Paw at the wild wild night
    Paw at the wild wild night

  10. M.... F....

    First heard the Bombay Bicycle Club version but I love this too (despite the lack of D-Twain)!

  11. J.... D....

    Such a beautiful and elegant voice. <3 Same with the way she plays the harp. Beautiful.

  12. b.... r....

    Listen to the Bombay Bicycle club version this song is very good but she cannot sing

    b.... r....

    not factual, you have no taste
    +

  13. b.... r....

    just because his name is that , it don't make his point valid

  14. b.... r....

    Bombay Bicycle Club, Version Is Better

    b.... r....

    incorrect

  15. l.... ....

    Its named after a ghost town in Arizona. Swansea, Arizona.

    l.... ....

    Tried to figure out the lyrics for years, now it all makes sense! Thanks!

    l.... ....

    Negative. Swansea,California.

    l.... ....

    @Cynthia And was named as such due to the emmigration of miners from Swansea in South Wales in the 1800's

  16. J.... D....

    I live near by. Do you think the songs about our Swansea? :)

  17. C.... R....

    Am I the only one who thinks this song is being told from the point of view of a dog on a road trip with her lady? For some reason, that's the interpretation I locked straight onto. Would explain the lyrics about chewing and gnawing and bones and pawing.

  18. N.... C....

    one of my favourites from her. Haunting and beautiful

  19. C.... G....

    Someone is strangling a cat.

    C.... G....

    🤦🏻‍♂️

  20. g.... d....

    I like this so bug off!!!!! She is different and I get it:)

  21. J.... W....

    All I'm seeing is ignorance, I don't see anyone who's complaining exercise the term called acceptance.

  22. D.... P....

    With an attitude like that, YOU need to be removed from YouTube immediately.

  23. 2.... ....

    You're a 21 male who listens to My Chemical Romance?

    I have news for you, son...

  24. M.... ....

    this song makes me cry,,

  25. P.... R....

    How beautiful! I live in a city called Swansea which is in South Wales UK. This is lovely, thank you, you have a new fan x

  26. I.... G....

    You just had to go there.

  27. i.... ....

    useless

  28. Z.... J....

    Hahaha, I am 21. You appear to be 14 yourself.

  29. i.... ....

    you've got a lot of learing to do- let me guess, you're fourteen?

  30. c.... ....

    what an enchanting authentic original refreshing compelling edgy direct fragile genius cute timeless horrid voice

    c.... ....

    Guess you're not a fan of traditional Chinese opera, then?

  31. Z.... J....

    0/10 As much I appreciate your condescending words, you aren't thinking if you assume I listen to one single band. This particular band happened to be apart of my username created 8 years ago. For your information I listen to more genres and musical artists then you have ever heard of. Classical, big band, swing, jazz, rock, ect. So why don't you open your ears and realize what shitty music this is.

  32. Z.... J....

    How does a username make my comment invalid? I don't understand your logic. Stop trying to troll me into thinking this is actual music. This video needs to be removed from youtube immediately.

  33. Z.... J....

    What a horrid voice

    Z.... J....

    You ought to look up traditional Chinese opera.

  34. L.... B....

    If my gran could sing like this I'd buy her a harp and move in with her...

  35. S.... A....

    So beautiful.

  36. J.... w....

    I think she named it after the swansea in calfornia as of 2007 the town is completely deserted and only one building remains

  37. M.... P....

    Just got threw listening to BBCs version for the first time and i must say.........I really like it! Of course im joannas biggest fan && swansea will always hold a special place in my heart, buuuut dont sleep on BBCs cover. They really do this song justice. :) Btw i think i might check out more of BBC cuz i looooove "Leave It" && now i love their "Swansea" cover....hmmmm.... ^__^

  38. S.... P....

    There are something like 11 ghost towns in North America called Swansea and they were all named after the Welsh Swansea(they were mining towns), so in a roundabout way this song is about the Welsh city.

  39. m.... o....

    What the hell are you talking about man?

  40. m.... o....

    I like the BBC version, but this is waaay better, apart from being the original, it gives the correct feeling. BBC's version is too sad. And it's not complete. Besides, it doen't have a harp.

  41. U.... ....

    @AleMayaOM lol

  42. A.... M....

    @Uktrayf fair enough i think its hideous, and you think im ridiculous, free speech.

  43. U.... ....

    @AleMayaOM complaining about a vocal register is kind of ridiculous to me.

  44. m.... ....

    fuck bombay bicycle club, joanna newsom brought me here.

    m.... ....

    I've got another one for monkeyside as well

  45. K.... T....

    @AleMayaOM check out her song 'Go Long' :)

  46. A.... M....

    @Uktrayf im talking about this kind of vocal register (which in my opinion is overrated these days with indie singer-songwriters), not that she sings bad or out of tune...

  47. U.... ....

    @slablilseb2 It's about a ghost town called swansea...

  48. U.... ....

    @AleMayaOM not many people sing like her.

  49. D.... ....

    @BigTuna1994 Fuck no to what exactly?

  50. A.... M....

    im so fucking sick of this kind of voice, ugh..

  51. T.... ....

    @lyles32386 Bombay Bicycle Club have already covered this acoustically. Look up the tabs.

  52. D.... ....

    Your amazing however, bombay bicycle club make the song what it is

  53. N.... O....

    I wanna cover this on acoustic but she gets damn crazy on the harp. hard to difficult to figure out. anyone up for it be sure to post.

  54. T.... ....

    @RJmakesvids cheers :D

  55. C.... ....

    @thealexfrom1994 o.0 Had to reply to this because I was not expecting to see a YouTube who I watch to comment on this video xD You have great taste in music :)

  56. l.... ....

    @mizofan Verdi's has the BEST icecream.. Just sayin' ;)

  57. B.... ....

    So beautiful <3

  58. M.... G....

    Bjork brought me here

  59. s.... ....

    @sweatersandcats God yeah she does lol!

  60. h.... ....

    @MyChemRomZaz Your name is "MyChemRomZaz" which automatically makes all your points of view invalid.

  61. Z.... J....

    what a horrid voice. like grandma trying to sing and failing

  62. B.... ....

    The girl that plays Grace from Skins is from Swansea.

    B.... ....

    Love skinssss

  63. i.... ....

    Everybody has their own interpretation of the same song. Joanna Newsom's and BBC's are both wonderful in my opinion.

  64. M.... p....

    beautiful

  65. Y.... ....

    @MyChemRomZaz You're a fan of My Chemical Romance. Your opinion means nothing.

  66. h.... ....

    Bombay's cover is a lot different, which is a good thing because they make it their own. This is great though.

  67. w.... ....

    @ARCherry75 there is a swansea everywhere but there is no swansea in london. but there IS a swansea in wales. which is'nt a ghost town it's more of a drug town.

  68. T.... ....

    Jack Steadman killed this haha!

  69. M.... E....

    I prefer Joanna's version over the cover by Bombay Bicycle Club, to say the least. That harp is just divine.

  70. D.... M....

    what a voice

  71. A.... C....

    lil this song is about ghost tow.s in the u s , and one of the ghosttowns happened to be called swansea, allthough our swansea is indeed a ghost town today as they r all in london

  72. E.... M....

    bombay bicycle club!

  73. J.... C....

    @mizofan Well welcome home bro. I think the play offs have been more entertaining than the whole season put together.

  74. m.... ....

    @leahcimrac I don't agree with having the Championship play-offs: the 3rd team (Swansea this time) should either be promoted or face the 3rd bottom from the Premier League in a play-off. But money not justice matters. I was born in Swansea but left as a baby- belated homecoming.

  75. J.... C....

    @mizofan Yeah its improved alot over the last 10 years or so. I've lived here my whole life. Mumbles is so lush in the sun. I used to collect seaweeds and make some lava bread on toast mmm lol. I'm sure Swansea will make it to the Premireship. No fighting since we're not playing Cardiff.

  76. m.... ....

    @leahcimrac Yeah i love Mumbles- we used to visit often when i lived at Brecon. But it's too expensive for buying properties. I can still look forward to being not far from the sea and bay though. We like Verdi's and Castellamare, on a sunny day it could almost be the bay of Naples! Swansea could do with some interesting architecture but it has been smartened up a bit, at the Copper Quarter and Marina. I'm hoping for Premier League football next season

  77. J.... C....

    @mizofan yeah its a fantastic place. Its not much of a Ghost town anymore due to development, but it all depends on where you live. The best place would be Mumbles in my opinion. I used to go running and bike riding on the side walk before the beaches. Lovely place. Cathrine Zeta Jones lives there with her husband and kids.

  78. J.... C....

    How can people dislike this song? Obviously 10 people haven't been to Swansea and don't fucking understand.

  79. m.... ....

    @leahcimrac Really? I'm moving to live there soon. But i love the Gower peninsula, Swansea bay..

  80. J.... C....

    @mizofan Amazing. Obviously shes been influenced by Celtic music. She sings about Trains and Ghost towns that sound very much like Swansea and its surrounding areas. Sometimes Swansea is like a Ghost town and then the next day its like a mass exodus.

  81. m.... ....

    @leahcimrac When i heard her Ys album i thought there an influence of Dylan Thomas, also she plays the harp and has been to Wales, so i imagine it is about Swansea.

  82. m.... ....

    She makes me cry and I don't know why..

  83. s.... ....

    Newsom? More like Awesome.. haw haw.

  84. E.... M....

    im from swansea:D

  85. w.... ....

    @HattieelovesYT Taxi for Hattie...

  86. B.... G....

    She sort of sounds like the Tallest Man on Earth.

  87. J.... C....

    Is this song actully about Swansea in South Wales? I can't imagine why she would sing about my hometown.

  88. A.... ....

    What's up with her voice? Like seriously ?

  89. G.... R....

    @67PEW She did say, "OH SWANSEA!" rather loudly.

  90. P.... ....

    Are you sure this is about Swansea in Wales, UK ? I hope it is, as I live near there. But I've just had a look at Google Maps and there's a Swansea in Massachusetts, USA. As Joanna's from the USA, I would think the song is more likely to be about that Swansea. I may be wrong.

  91. o.... ....

    She is amazing.

  92. J.... H....

    I adore you. A kindred spirit. Enjoy your life.

  93. P.... W....

    amazing. but does the name of the song 'Swansea' have any relevance to the song? I live there and was just wondering.

    P.... W....

    P Wright there is a ghost town called swansea its named after that city💞

  94. P.... W....

    amazing. but does the name of the song 'Swansea' have any relevance to the song? I live there and was just wondering.

  95. K.... ....

    Damn pretty and good voice <3 that'll get you far these days :)

  96. l.... ....

    @xmisogyny Lol. Word.

  97. l.... ....

    @xmisogyny Lol. Word.

  98. M.... L....

    @biblecampgirl

    I don't see how people think she sounds like a little kid >_>
    I thought she was an older lady in her 40s to 50s. and then I guessed a granny.. 70+
    Then I google'd her and shat bricks

  99. M.... L....

    @moomoomoomzq


    lmao