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.
Girl of sixteen
Whole life ahead of her
Slashed her wrists
Bored with life
Didn't succeed
Thank the Lord
For small mercies
Fighting back the tears
Mother reads the note again
Sixteen candles burn in her mind
She takes the blame
It's always the same
She goes down on her knees
And prays
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
Girl of eighteen
Fell in love with everything
Found new life in Jesus Christ
Hit by a car
Ended up
On a life support machine
Summer's day
As she passed away
Birds were singing
In the summer's sky
Then came the rain
And once again
A tear fell
From her mother's eye
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him
Whole life ahead of her
Slashed her wrists
Bored with life
Didn't succeed
Thank the Lord
For small mercies
Fighting back the tears
Mother reads the note again
Sixteen candles burn in her mind
She takes the blame
It's always the same
She goes down on her knees
And prays
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
Girl of eighteen
Fell in love with everything
Found new life in Jesus Christ
Hit by a car
Ended up
On a life support machine
Summer's day
As she passed away
Birds were singing
In the summer's sky
Then came the rain
And once again
A tear fell
From her mother's eye
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Ok, I totally love this song. It is emotionally charged and has a suspense aspect to it. However, I do not listen to it anymore. In fact, I have probably not listened to it for the past 8 years or so.
I perceive the lyrics to be blasphemous. Martin or the 'speaker' says: "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours, BUT ..." But he chooses to utter/share his blasphemous thoughts anyway.
It's as straight forward as it gets. He thinks that God has a sick sense of humour. God created us with free will, so you can choose to think, say, express etc. whatever you like. If you are a Christian, however, you bound by Gods laws your sin is forgiven, if you choose Christ as your Redeemer or Saviour.
Religion (incl. atheism) is a personal choice.
If you are a Christian, you cannot do anything about other’s 'hard hearts', except to pray for them.
A question for anti-Christ’s or atheists: Have you tried reading or studying the bible as an adult? My premonition is that if you have taken the time to do this you would change your views and you won't be bogged down with life like many of the previous writers in this forum have expressed about their own lives. If you haven’t, realize that your opinion on God or Christianity for that matter is an uninformed opinion and that the opposite is true for Christians. Christians struggle with faith all the time and without difficulty has insight into the ‘atheistic’ or ‘easy-path’ viewpoint. For the last 8 years or so, I have been tempted to listen to this song many times but have been able to resist. I love DM and many of their songs. Personally, I listen to any one’s songs, even metal (incl. Trash) and many other genres. If a particular song makes me uncomfortable I delete it or just don’t listen to it, but still respect the artists’ views. Why shouldn’t I listen to a wide variety? A Christian does not have to be unhappy or restricted from enjoying life. You should just know where the boundaries are. With this song in particular, before I can help myself, I am singing “Don’t wanna start any blasphemous rumours...” and I know I am just giving in and dishonouring Him. So, I rather just listen to some other DM stuff or other music.
Well, that’s my 5 cents worth.
I thought I was the only one who did that, good to know I'm not...
@Truepal same here guys
@Truepal I disagree. You can't be serious if you take the lyrics literally. The song is expressing the feeling of someone - anyone - who had just lost a loved one and blaming God for their loss. You know that it happens - but it does not mean that Dave or anyone from DM actually thinks that way. You can write a love song even if you just broke up with your lover and the last thing you think about at the moment is a relationship.
@Truepal "A question for anti-Christ’s or atheists: Have you tried reading or studying the bible as an adult?"<br /> <br /> Yes.<br /> <br /> "My premonition is that if you have taken the time to do this you would change your views"<br /> <br /> Your premonition turns to be wrong.<br /> <br /> "If you haven’t, realize that your opinion on God or Christianity for that matter is an uninformed opinion"<br /> <br /> God? Have you studied the Q'ram? What you mean is exclusively the Christian God isn't it? And exclusively a version on which the Bible is the only source.<br /> <br /> There are many others.<br /> <br /> You have not studied.<br /> <br /> And therefore, not believing on Allah, for example, is an uniformed opinion of you, according to this logic. Or not believing on the Hindu Gods.<br /> <br /> I think not.