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.
Oh, ah
Oh, ah, yeah
Oh, ah
Oh, ah, ah
Oh, ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh, ah-ah, yeah
Ah, oh, oh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I am bottled fizzy water
And you are shaking me up
You are a fingernail running down
The chalkboard I thought I left in third grade
Now my only consolation
Is that this could not last forever
Even though you're singing and thinking
How well you've got it made
Who are you?
When will you be through
Yeah, it's just a phase
It will be over soon
Yeah, it's just a phase
Yeah, it's just a
Phase
Call it women's intuition
But I think I'm on to something here
Temporaryism has been the Black Plague
And the Jesus of our age
I know that I sound opinionated
Maybe biased and quite possibly jaded
But sooner than later they'll be throwing
Quarters at you on stage
Who are you?
When will you be through
Yeah, it's just a phase
It will be over soon
Yeah, it's just a
Phase, and I'm waiting for it to be over, too
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah
Oh, ah, yeah
Oh, ah
Oh, ah, ah
Oh, ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh, ah-ah, yeah
Ah, oh, oh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I am bottled fizzy water
And you are shaking me up
You are a fingernail running down
The chalkboard I thought I left in third grade
Now my only consolation
Is that this could not last forever
Even though you're singing and thinking
How well you've got it made
Who are you?
When will you be through
Yeah, it's just a phase
It will be over soon
Yeah, it's just a phase
Yeah, it's just a
Phase
Call it women's intuition
But I think I'm on to something here
Temporaryism has been the Black Plague
And the Jesus of our age
I know that I sound opinionated
Maybe biased and quite possibly jaded
But sooner than later they'll be throwing
Quarters at you on stage
Who are you?
When will you be through
Yeah, it's just a phase
It will be over soon
Yeah, it's just a
Phase, and I'm waiting for it to be over, too
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah, oh-oh
Yeah
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"temporaryism has been black plague and the jesus of our age" means that although temporaryism (think pop. culture) has taken over and is bad (like the black plague did), people think of it as "Jesus" or the best thing around.
Knowing Incubus you're probably right. <br /> <br /> A personal opinion... I think its a little tough to call something as complex as a culture just bad. And regardless of whether pop culture is bad or good, it is. I don't think its really productive or even accurate to go around grading complex stuff like that like they're in a pass/fail course. Theres good and bad in most everything and everyone... Its rarely just one or the other, unless you're just talking about your favorites/preferences. Certain pieces of pop culture maybe bad... Anyway. <br /> <br /> What I think temporaryism refers to is how a certain person or idea or thing in today's culture can blow up and become the next big thing almost overnight and then fall out just as fast. Take KONY 2012... Perfect example. The digital age has made facts/truth/investigation much less important to gaining consensus. If we looked deeper, less reactionary(ily?) at certain issues/people/cultures/crimes before quickly adopting/confirming what society tells us the answer is then we might get better results. Its tough... pop culture is catchy. :p
i dont think this song has anything to do with a romantic relationship... the lines first few lines "i am bottled, fizzy water and you are shaking me up, you are a fingernail running down the chalkboard I thought I left in third grade" seem to me to be directed towards a friend of his that he can no longer deal with who is immature (hence, the reference to third grade) and spiteful (the shaking of the bottle). the fingernail running down the chalkboard meaning he finds the antagonist impossible to deal with and listen to, while the chorus is him reassuring himself that it will all be over soon when he really doesn't have any idea when the relationship will be over or change, and doesn't even truly belive what he is saying because he has repeated this to himself so many times... the song is full of intense frustration and repressed feelings.
it reminds me of the feeling i get of breaking up and wondering why i didn't do it sooner
as far as the lyrics go.... It's about anything.. that's the beauty of it- you can take this song in anyway you want to... it could be about a person who's really bugging you, a family thing, a romantic thing.. I think the song is about anything that's bugging you and reminding yourself to calm down.. and for the music...the slow flowing motion is like he's ok with the whole situation.. he's keeping his cool.. the way that the song moves into the chorus is like he's almost tapping his knee with his hand, losing his patience.. then when it moves to a fake climax- he's about to yell out of frustration, but he quickly calms himself. The second time around into the chorus, he finally gives in to it, screaming with impatience. then the song slows again, he regains his frame of mind, knowing that everything passes in due time.. things change.. most everything is just a phase.
I think this song is about a particular type of music that brandon just doesn't like. It is popular and he hears it everywhere but it is just frustrating to him to have to hear it. He says that the fans are eventually turn on the person and thier scene by throwing quarters at them on stage.
i love this song. it's pretty cool, one of the best on the new album. it just talks about how he wants her but its only a phase, and thats why he is with her
what about the part where says "temporaryism has been the jesus of our age." what does that mean
what about the part where says "temporaryism has been the jesus of our age." what does that mean
I know that what you all are saying is true, but sometimes when I listen to it, I think of my totally huge crush on Brandon and other blokes: that it's just a phase and soon it will be over cos it will never come into fruition.
the whole song describes what my relationship with my x-girlfriend was like.