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.
When I was born
They looked at me and said
What a good boy
What a smart boy
What a strong boy
And when you were born
They looked at you and said
What a good girl
What a smart girl
What a pretty girl
We've got these chains
Hanging 'round our necks
People want to strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls
We just look away
This name is the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
I know that it isn't right
But be with me tonight
I go to school
I write exams
If I pass if I fail if I drop out
Does anyone give a damn?
And if they do
They'll soon forget
'Cause it won't take much for me
To show my life ain't over yet
I wake up scared
I wake up strange
I wake up wondering if anything in my life
Is ever gonna change
I wake up scared
I wake up strange
And everything around me stays the same
It's the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from
It's woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
I know that it isn't right
But be with me tonight
I couldn't tell you
I was wrong
Chickened out grabbed a pen and a paper
Sat down and I wrote this song
I couldn't tell you
That you were right
So instead I looked in the mirror
Watched TV, laid awake all night
We've got these chains
Hanging round our necks
People want to strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls, yeah
This name is the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from
It's woven from
It's woven from hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
And when I was born
They looked at me and said
What a good boy
What a smart boy
What a strong boy
And when you were born
They looked at you and said
What a good girl
What a smart girl
What a pretty girl, yeah, yeah
They looked at me and said
What a good boy
What a smart boy
What a strong boy
And when you were born
They looked at you and said
What a good girl
What a smart girl
What a pretty girl
We've got these chains
Hanging 'round our necks
People want to strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls
We just look away
This name is the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
I know that it isn't right
But be with me tonight
I go to school
I write exams
If I pass if I fail if I drop out
Does anyone give a damn?
And if they do
They'll soon forget
'Cause it won't take much for me
To show my life ain't over yet
I wake up scared
I wake up strange
I wake up wondering if anything in my life
Is ever gonna change
I wake up scared
I wake up strange
And everything around me stays the same
It's the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from
It's woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
I know that it isn't right
But be with me tonight
I couldn't tell you
I was wrong
Chickened out grabbed a pen and a paper
Sat down and I wrote this song
I couldn't tell you
That you were right
So instead I looked in the mirror
Watched TV, laid awake all night
We've got these chains
Hanging round our necks
People want to strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls, yeah
This name is the hair shirt I wear
And this hair shirt is woven from
It's woven from
It's woven from hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear with me
Bear with me
Bear with me
Be with me tonight
And when I was born
They looked at me and said
What a good boy
What a smart boy
What a strong boy
And when you were born
They looked at you and said
What a good girl
What a smart girl
What a pretty girl, yeah, yeah
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This is a really sad song, and it especially relates to a current situation I am in. I'd like to think this song is about a young man who has just realized he is in love with or has feelings for a long-time friend of his, hes unsure if she feels the same way and this feeling creates a lot of pain for him. Something is holding them back from being together, probably due to current relationships they are in. .. the timing is all wrong, but he wants nothing more than to be with her, and he can only hope that she feels the same way... The protagonist sounds really upset, and confused. wanting a positive change in his life, he's not sure if he can be happy without her.