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.
Six AM day after Christmas
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
She is balled up on the couch
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
They're not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
Then I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got
Can't you see
It's not me you're dying for?
Now she's feeling more alone
Than she ever has before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
As weeks went by
It showed that she was not fine
They told me "Son it's time to tell the truth"
And she broke down and I broke down
'Cause I was tired of lying
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment, we're alone
Yeah, she's alone and I'm alone
And now I know it
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
She is balled up on the couch
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
They're not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
Then I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got
Can't you see
It's not me you're dying for?
Now she's feeling more alone
Than she ever has before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
As weeks went by
It showed that she was not fine
They told me "Son it's time to tell the truth"
And she broke down and I broke down
'Cause I was tired of lying
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment, we're alone
Yeah, she's alone and I'm alone
And now I know it
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Part II...
Fast forward ten years and my girlfriend is now my wife. We have a young child whom we love dearly. We want more children and she gets pregnant. She waits until 10 weeks have passed and makes the announcement. We go for an ultrasound. I am with her and I can clearly see that there is now nothing discernable in the womb. The ultrasound technician knows this as well but isn't allowed to comment. That's the doctor's job. It doesn't matter because we both know that something has gone wrong. Our baby has left this world. My wife suffers a miscarriage.
To this day, I wonder who this child may have been. As I type, I am crying. Seeing the ultrasound for my first child and then seeing the ultrasound of my second child changes my entire outlook on abortion. Does life begin at conception? Maybe. But it is a fact that when there is a fetus with hands, feets, toes, etc. you are looking at life. When I hear "Brick" I cry.
I will not judge others in their decision on this topic. But do not take it lightly. Explore all of your options before making the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Don't be bullied by people at abortion clinics.
Thank you so much for your comment. I created an account on this website just to thank you for how powerfully it hit me. I'm not a crier but I got chills and started to tear up reading your comment, because I could feel how emotional you really felt writing it.<br /> <br /> Many people I love have gone through the same thing and it was so much harder than people expect. I love you and your wife for going on through a trial like that, instead of becoming angry and bitter. Call me crazy I know your child's spirit lives on and you will get to be with him or her again. I could feel that as I read your comment. Thank you again for sharing your story.<br /> <br /> Anyone else who has ever or will ever lost a child in the womb, infancy, or later in life, I know you can find the strength to get through it just like this great man and his wife did. And I believe you can be with your family again. "Everything always works out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I found the peace to endure the death of loved ones through my Savior, Jesus Christ. Follow these links to learn more about being with your family after death and finding peace to endure trials in this life.<br /> lds.org/topics/death-physical<br /> mormon.org/plan-of-happiness