Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of inheriting a home and its contents from a deceased aunt, framing the event with a peculiar blend of melancholy and dark humor. The narrator begins by stating their aunt is from Ostrava and is no longer cold, implying her death was due to poisoning and that she's now "done with it." This sets a somber, almost matter-of-fact tone for the passing. The narrator's response to this loss is unconventional, opting to play a trumpet with a wreath and ribbon, even though it's for someone "stiff." This highlights a detachment or a unique way of processing grief, focusing on the tangible act of playing music rather than overt emotional expression. The inheritance itself is described as a "old house" with "two chairs and a table," some "worn-out ghosts," and "all sorts of junk," painting a picture of a neglected but perhaps character-filled space. The most striking element is the narrator's plan to use an inherited "hang glider" with "old feathers from the bed" to "attach to my feet" and "jump around happily." This surreal image suggests a desire to escape or perhaps a whimsical, almost childlike approach to life, even in the face of death. The idea of everyone sleeping in the house "for me, instead of me" and doing "nothing all day" further emphasizes a passive, perhaps escapist lifestyle that the house now represents. This inheritance isn't just about property; it's about inheriting a way of being. The house, with its "drawn blinds all year round," where they "smoke and make love," becomes a sanctuary for indolence and perhaps illicit pleasures. The narrator embraces this inherited idleness, declaring "we don't lack anything" and welcoming anyone who likes it, while dismissing dissenters. The lyrics effectively capture a darkly comedic inheritance, where the narrator finds a strange joy and freedom in the peculiar legacy left behind.