"Fireflies" is a song by John Grant that captures memories and emotions from the past. The song describes a summer night in 1975 or possibly earlier, where the protagonist reminisces about catching fireflies at an ice cream social. As the song progresses, a sense of darkness and destruction emerges. The second verse introduces a character who arrives with a rake on fire, destroying a wasp nest high up. This event is witnessed by the protagonist and others, who are filled with a fiery intensity in their eyes, although they do not fully comprehend the significance of what they are seeing. The song then transitions to a cemetery located behind the protagonist's house. There lies a grave, potentially belonging to someone meaningful. The visuals of dead flowers create a poignant atmosphere, symbolizing the passage of time and the longing for someone lost. The overall meaning of the song is open to interpretation, but it seems to evoke themes of nostalgia, loss, and the fleeting nature of time. The fireflies represent moments of joy and innocence, while the destructive act of the person with the rake highlights the fragility of these precious moments. The cemetery scene further explores the bittersweet nature of memories and the longing to hold onto the past.
