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.
At least you know
You were taken by a pro
I know just how you feel
She talked a perfect game
Deflecting all the blame
You took the jack
And changed the flat
And got behind the wheel,
Now you're
Driving sideways
Taken in by the scenery
As you're propelled along
And your companion
Will not help you to navigate
For fear she may be wrong
And you will say
That you're making headway
And put it in overdrive
But you're mistaking speed
For getting what you need
And never even noticing
You never do arrive
'Cause you're
Driving sideways
If you roll down the window you'll see
You're where you don't belong
And your companion
Will not help you to navigate
For fear she may be wrong
And you're powered by
The hopeful lie
That it's just around the bend
And when this, by default
Comes screeching to a halt
Let's hope that you
Know what to do
To start it up again
Driving sideways
Hitting scan on the radio
So she can sing along
And she'll sit
Thinking you're going to handle it
Until she's proven wrong
Until she's proven wrong
Until you prove her wrong
You were taken by a pro
I know just how you feel
She talked a perfect game
Deflecting all the blame
You took the jack
And changed the flat
And got behind the wheel,
Now you're
Driving sideways
Taken in by the scenery
As you're propelled along
And your companion
Will not help you to navigate
For fear she may be wrong
And you will say
That you're making headway
And put it in overdrive
But you're mistaking speed
For getting what you need
And never even noticing
You never do arrive
'Cause you're
Driving sideways
If you roll down the window you'll see
You're where you don't belong
And your companion
Will not help you to navigate
For fear she may be wrong
And you're powered by
The hopeful lie
That it's just around the bend
And when this, by default
Comes screeching to a halt
Let's hope that you
Know what to do
To start it up again
Driving sideways
Hitting scan on the radio
So she can sing along
And she'll sit
Thinking you're going to handle it
Until she's proven wrong
Until she's proven wrong
Until you prove her wrong
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Plastic Bag
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“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.
when i'm feeling low, i usually end up playing this song with boyfriend present in the room. not completely directed at him, but i do notice that i end up noticing his body language as he listens to the lyrics. it's a very strange feeling being female, listening to aimee talk to a guy about his wayward girl and somehow, i end up fitting in there, too.
I think Aimee Mann was one of those students who love to play with words and that comes out in her lyrics (Spoken like an ex-English teacher!) They are very clever and the "conceit" of the title is carried through to the whole song.
I love this song...unfortunately, the girl in it reminds me of myself because I'm a bad navigator...on a trip to Virginia Beach we were on a dicey stretch of 35, and I played this.
Definitely, the song, reminds me of a relationship I was in a few years ago. Man did I get blindsided by her and the crash of the relationship. I love Aimee and. the way she crafts her songs.
I can't recall what article that wrote a review of her early (solo) work but it equated her songwriting down to this "A smart woman making dumb mistakes." I may be a man but I can definitely relate to her words.
wow! i love aimee mann. its funny because my friend christen introduced me to it the other day on a smoke ride with asian matt after a weekend at iup and it amazed the shit out of me. im in love with aimee! theres also this funny story to it. christen said she wrecked the car the past 2 times she was listening to that song... like she lived out this song... and it was the first time since her last accident that she was listening to it... lol it was great...