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.
I saw her standing there
Tears upon her cheek told me something was wrong
I asked her what it was
She looked away and said my daddy's home
I knew what that meant
It meant that I could never see her again
I had seen this once before
I didn't wanna deal with it anymore
Look away she said, as she turned to me
And when I tried to hold her
I couldn't let her be
Let her be, let her be
I said why, why do you make me cry
She said, I love you so, look away
I don't wanna know
I saw her standing there
Tears upon her cheek told me something's wrong
I said, what baby
She looked away and said my daddy's home
Look away she said, and she turned to me
But darling, oh I loved her, couldn't let her be
Let her be, let her be
Look away, look away
She said, I love you so, look away
Tears upon her cheek told me something was wrong
I asked her what it was
She looked away and said my daddy's home
I knew what that meant
It meant that I could never see her again
I had seen this once before
I didn't wanna deal with it anymore
Look away she said, as she turned to me
And when I tried to hold her
I couldn't let her be
Let her be, let her be
I said why, why do you make me cry
She said, I love you so, look away
I don't wanna know
I saw her standing there
Tears upon her cheek told me something's wrong
I said, what baby
She looked away and said my daddy's home
Look away she said, and she turned to me
But darling, oh I loved her, couldn't let her be
Let her be, let her be
Look away, look away
She said, I love you so, look away
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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Yo La Tengo
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Great version of a great song,
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think it's a racial thing. The dad doesn't want her dating a black guy. Of course he has "seen this once before" because he's always been black. Also, "Look Away" evokes the chorus of "Dixie."