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.
So every day I see you in some other face
They crack a smile, talk a while
Try to take your place
My memory serves me far too well
I just sit here on this mountain thinking to myself
You're a fool boy
Why don't you go down
Find somebody
Find somebody else
My memory (my memory) serves me far too well
It's not as though we just broke up
It's not as though it was yesterday, yeah
But something I just can't explain
Something in me needs this pain
I know I'll never see your face again
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) c'mon now
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) I've got to be strong now
Now everybody's talking about this new decade
Like you say the magic numbers
Then just say goodbye to the stupid mistakes you made
Oh my memory (oh, my memory) serves me far too well
Don't you know that
The years will come and go
Some of us will change our lives
Some of us still have nothing to show
Nothing, baby (nothing, baby)
But memories (but memories)
And if these wounds
They are self-inflicted
I don't really know
How my poor heart could have protected me
But if I have to carry this pain
If you will not share the blame
I deserve to see your face again
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) c'mon now
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) you don't have to be so strong now
Come back, come back, come back, come back
Come back, come back, come back
Oh, come back to me darling
I will make it worth your while
Come back to your baby
I miss your kiss
I miss your smile
Seems to me the peace I search to find
Ain't going to be mine until you say you will
Don't you keep me waiting for that day (uh, uh, uh, uh)
I know, I know, I know you hear these words that I say
(Uh, uh, uh, uh)
I know, I know, I know
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want, oh
Come back, come back, come back, come back
Come back, come back, come back
They crack a smile, talk a while
Try to take your place
My memory serves me far too well
I just sit here on this mountain thinking to myself
You're a fool boy
Why don't you go down
Find somebody
Find somebody else
My memory (my memory) serves me far too well
It's not as though we just broke up
It's not as though it was yesterday, yeah
But something I just can't explain
Something in me needs this pain
I know I'll never see your face again
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) c'mon now
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) I've got to be strong now
Now everybody's talking about this new decade
Like you say the magic numbers
Then just say goodbye to the stupid mistakes you made
Oh my memory (oh, my memory) serves me far too well
Don't you know that
The years will come and go
Some of us will change our lives
Some of us still have nothing to show
Nothing, baby (nothing, baby)
But memories (but memories)
And if these wounds
They are self-inflicted
I don't really know
How my poor heart could have protected me
But if I have to carry this pain
If you will not share the blame
I deserve to see your face again
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) c'mon now
(Uh, uh, uh, uh) you don't have to be so strong now
Come back, come back, come back, come back
Come back, come back, come back
Oh, come back to me darling
I will make it worth your while
Come back to your baby
I miss your kiss
I miss your smile
Seems to me the peace I search to find
Ain't going to be mine until you say you will
Don't you keep me waiting for that day (uh, uh, uh, uh)
I know, I know, I know you hear these words that I say
(Uh, uh, uh, uh)
I know, I know, I know
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want, oh
Come back, come back, come back, come back
Come back, come back, come back
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