Buffalo Replaced

Mitski's 'Buffalo Replaced' is a poignant reflection on change and the passage of time, wrapped in the metaphor of the American landscape. The song opens with a scene of the artist outside at night, unable to go indoors, which could symbolize a feeling of displacement or an inability to find comfort in familiar spaces. The full moon and fireflies create a vivid image of the natural world, which is both beautiful and indifferent to human concerns.

The recurring image of the freight train stampeding through the backyard 'like the new buffalo replaced' serves as a powerful metaphor for progress and the relentless march of time. The buffalo, once a symbol of the American West's untamed wilderness, has been supplanted by the industrial force of the train. This line evokes a sense of loss for what has been overtaken by modernity, as well as a recognition of the unstoppable nature of change.

The song also touches on themes of companionship and resilience. Mitski personifies hope as a blind entity with no name, suggesting that even in its uncertainty, hope is a vital, life-sustaining force. The mention of 'her'—presumably a pet or a metaphor for hope itself—adds a layer of personal attachment and the complexity of caring for another being. The song ends with the image of the train horn howling, a reminder of the wild, untamed spirit that persists even as the world around us transforms.