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.
And when I asked for a separate room
It was late at night and we'd been driving since noon
But if I'd known how that would sound to you
I would have stayed in your bed for the rest of my life
Just to prove I was right
That it's harder to be friends than lovers
And you shouldn't try to mix the two
'Cause if you do it and you're still unhappy
Then you know that the problem is you
And it's true that I stole your lighter
And it's also true that I lost the map
But when you said that I wasn't worth talking to
I had to take your word on that
But if you'd known how that would sound to me
You would have taken it back
And boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Burned it up and thrown it away
You put in my hands a loaded gun
And then told me not to fire it
When you did the things you said were up to me
And then accused me of trying to fuck it up
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be alright
And the license said you had to stick around until I was dead
But if you're tired of looking at my face, I guess I already am
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be alright
It was late at night and we'd been driving since noon
But if I'd known how that would sound to you
I would have stayed in your bed for the rest of my life
Just to prove I was right
That it's harder to be friends than lovers
And you shouldn't try to mix the two
'Cause if you do it and you're still unhappy
Then you know that the problem is you
And it's true that I stole your lighter
And it's also true that I lost the map
But when you said that I wasn't worth talking to
I had to take your word on that
But if you'd known how that would sound to me
You would have taken it back
And boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Burned it up and thrown it away
You put in my hands a loaded gun
And then told me not to fire it
When you did the things you said were up to me
And then accused me of trying to fuck it up
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be alright
And the license said you had to stick around until I was dead
But if you're tired of looking at my face, I guess I already am
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be alright
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
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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,
this is a great song-- it's kinda depressing but really captures the feeling of a break up-- you're deeply hurt, vengful and sorry- all at the same time.
yeah its awesome.
I love that both members of the couple in this song say and do stupid things that make their spouse upset (like loosing a map) and its realistic that they always take their silly arguments one step further and say things they don't mean, but at the end of the day despite the conflicts the two still mean something to eachother even if their feelings and relationship isn't as sacred as it once was
this song is sad on her behalf i think. like when somebody you love says something horrible to you..and you just think if you knew for ONE second how bad that made me feel, i know you'd take it back...
ok..."it's harder to be friends than lovers, and you shouldn't try to mix the two"....and..."the license said you had to stick around til i was dead"...are the best lyrics ever!!! i dunno why but they just really stick with me
@alissakissa24 You left out 'cuz if you do it and you're still unhappy, then you know that the problem is you'. So very true.
i love this song, about couples who have petty arguments that split them up, and that being friends is harder to keep than being lovers, which is kinda true.
alissakissa I agree; love that line about the license as well; it's the epitome of great poetry
the raw feeling of hopelessness you get when you break up from someone you still love but don't like, this song is mourning the end of a relationship. liz phair's voice is so so so amazing in this song
"it's harder to be friends than lovers And you shouldn't try to mix the two"
--such good lines! and so true. i've never understood the whole 'hey, we can't be lovers, let's be friends' thing--it doesn't work!! i guess it's just about a fight that leads to a break-up, and it's obviously always been a pretty fucked-up friendship/relationship.
also great lyrics:
"You put in my hands a loaded gun And then told me not to fire it"
she's so good!
This is clearly NOT about divorce what are you people on about