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.
Too many voices, It won't take long
Which one's right, which one's wrong
Yours is most likely to be misunderstood
Screaming in tongues
On the top of my lungs
'Til I find you, 'til you found me
Somehow I always knew that you would
And I am contemplating matters
All this cling and clatter
In my head, and what you said
Is ringing, ringing faster
And it's all good if you would
Stop the world from making sense
And if I could just realize
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
If I could touch
The sound of silence now
You know I would if I knew how
To make these intentions
Come around
I'm hearing without listening
And believing every word
You are not saying
Speaking without a sound
Trapped inside
Of these four walls
Walking brainless muppet dolls
Mushroom face
Beneath the tangles
Bleeding silhouette inside
Dancing like an angel would
Which one's right, which one's wrong
Yours is most likely to be misunderstood
Screaming in tongues
On the top of my lungs
'Til I find you, 'til you found me
Somehow I always knew that you would
And I am contemplating matters
All this cling and clatter
In my head, and what you said
Is ringing, ringing faster
And it's all good if you would
Stop the world from making sense
And if I could just realize
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
If I could touch
The sound of silence now
You know I would if I knew how
To make these intentions
Come around
I'm hearing without listening
And believing every word
You are not saying
Speaking without a sound
Trapped inside
Of these four walls
Walking brainless muppet dolls
Mushroom face
Beneath the tangles
Bleeding silhouette inside
Dancing like an angel would
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To me, this song is a bit of what everyone has been saying.
The first part is talking about how there's so many voices telling you what to do, and what to think, and influencing you and your actions, and just trying to find comfort or an escape from it all (Screaming in tongues on the top of my lungs/'Til i find you, 'Til you found me/Somehow i always knew that you would")
Then the chorus is talking about just trying to figure out where you stand and just trying to get your voice out of all the things that everyone is saying. After all, your opinion and voice is the only thing that matters.
The next verse is him saying if he could, he would shut out all the voices and thoughts in his head. And it's like he knows that everyone is thinking or saying to him, even if they don't verbally say it to him.
Then, I agree with SkylarMarie11 on the "muppet dolls" verse. It's everyone trying to get you to think or believe one thing and inside you're "bleeding" just trying to find your own voice.
Personally, I don't think this song gets all the credit it deserves. It's a great song about just finding your voice between all the other forces in your life.