In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
And I could easily fall from grace
Then another would take my place
For the chance to behold your face
As the days of my life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
At the call of the wind's command
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
The fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines, that lead between the lines, that lead me to you
All that I ask you
Is, show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you I can't find my own way
Let me see the light, let me be the light
As the sun turns slowly around the sky
Till the shadow of night is high
The eagle will learn to fly
As the days of his life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
And vanish upon the land
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
The fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines, that lead between the lines, that lead me to you
Show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you I can't find my own way
Let me see the light, let me be the light
And so, with no warning, no last goodbye
In the dawn of the morning sky
The eagle will rise again
Then another would take my place
For the chance to behold your face
As the days of my life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
At the call of the wind's command
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
The fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines, that lead between the lines, that lead me to you
All that I ask you
Is, show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you I can't find my own way
Let me see the light, let me be the light
As the sun turns slowly around the sky
Till the shadow of night is high
The eagle will learn to fly
As the days of his life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
And vanish upon the land
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
The fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines, that lead between the lines, that lead me to you
Show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you I can't find my own way
Let me see the light, let me be the light
And so, with no warning, no last goodbye
In the dawn of the morning sky
The eagle will rise again
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"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
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My opinion: This song seems to me to be a stopping point of the "Voyager's" trip backward through time. This stop - on the way to his ultimate goal of the Pyramids of ancient Egypt - would seem to be the time immediately after the death of Jesus Christ; I like to think of it as being that night. The song's title would seem to pay homage to the Bible's Gospel of John. I usually picture St. John singing these lyrics mourning the death of his friend and prophesying the coming of Jesus' rising again on Easter.
When I first heard this song, maybe because of other things I was reading etc.. well undoubtedly because of things like that of course, it all comes to bear... it seemed to me like a plee from Satan to God after his fall. There is ego, " I could easily fall from grace Then another would take my place"... which is at the heart of Lucifer's story.... of course the song seems to start with the fall being a possibility... but of course, the thought itself represents ego and a regard for one's place, favoured in the sight of God.
Then we have the "Hell" As the days of his life are but grains of sand As they fall from your open hand And vanish upon the land
but! here the lyrics say "he" but previously there is a similar stanza, but with a different perspective.
As the days of my life are but grains of sand As they fall from your open hand At the call of the wind's command
Is this saying "I" and "he" are the one... ?
Hell being a state of being out of God's sight, like the grains of sand... which fall "upon the land"...
Then we have In the dawn of the morning sky The eagle will rise again
Where you can see the possible reference to The Morning Star... Lucifer, and the eagle being a bird with deep esoteric and spiritual meaning as a symbol. This eagle learn to fly in the dark, then rises with the sun.
Then the Hermetic element, which is throughout with reference to the elements, there is also a sense of words falling on the ears of the deaf...
There is a deep sadness and I would say sympathy, for the plight of whomever the protagonist of the song is.
and this part Let me see the light, let me be the light And so, with no warning, no last goodbye In the dawn of the morning sky The eagle will rise again
let me see the light and be the light, seems very much in line with Hermetic to Christian ideas of the Creator, The All.. God and the state of grace being one in Gods light with all creation.. maybe I'm getting carried away with myself there lol
Smitten