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.
Returning to solace
So sweet like honeysuckle on the tongue
The sound of silence blesses my ears
Enveloping like the earth I will one day lie in
Metropolis is bad to wither the soul
Roaring concrete and steel washes you in blood
So let you point and laugh
Provincial ain't so bad
Take me back down to where I belong
To rust in rivers
I do not covet any man's life
I know my place all too well
One man's paradise is another man's living hell
To each their own
Generations ago, made this place my own
The roots are deep and strong
Carry them wherever I go
Never wanted your approval
Never wanted your acceptance
Never wanted to be anything but me
Never wanted to be anywhere but here
Carry me southeast bound home
To speak in defense of our good name
Lay me to rest with my kin
In the ground of God's country
Lash out at any who would smear you with hate
Deify no one, never crawl ashamed
The past screams injustice on a southern night wind
Whips manacle chains, musket balls
A dark history never forgotten
Only misconception remains
Speak in defense of our good name
The blood of kin grants absolution
I'll join them soon enough in the ground of God's country
Speak in defense of our good name
The blood of kin grants absolution
I'll join them soon enough in the ground of God's country
Never wanted your acceptance
Never wanted your approval
Never wanted to be anything but me
Never wanted to be anywhere but right here
So sweet like honeysuckle on the tongue
The sound of silence blesses my ears
Enveloping like the earth I will one day lie in
Metropolis is bad to wither the soul
Roaring concrete and steel washes you in blood
So let you point and laugh
Provincial ain't so bad
Take me back down to where I belong
To rust in rivers
I do not covet any man's life
I know my place all too well
One man's paradise is another man's living hell
To each their own
Generations ago, made this place my own
The roots are deep and strong
Carry them wherever I go
Never wanted your approval
Never wanted your acceptance
Never wanted to be anything but me
Never wanted to be anywhere but here
Carry me southeast bound home
To speak in defense of our good name
Lay me to rest with my kin
In the ground of God's country
Lash out at any who would smear you with hate
Deify no one, never crawl ashamed
The past screams injustice on a southern night wind
Whips manacle chains, musket balls
A dark history never forgotten
Only misconception remains
Speak in defense of our good name
The blood of kin grants absolution
I'll join them soon enough in the ground of God's country
Speak in defense of our good name
The blood of kin grants absolution
I'll join them soon enough in the ground of God's country
Never wanted your acceptance
Never wanted your approval
Never wanted to be anything but me
Never wanted to be anywhere but right here
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is probally wrong but I think its about how the south wanted to be there own country, and randy admits they have a dark history but there's more to it then that. they wanted to be there own county for other reasons more purposeable. and they never wanted the norths acceptance or approval. they just wanted to be them. and winning the civil war doesnt change anything in the way they think.
Wikipedia says its about "is about living life in the rural south, the history involved in the south, and how it has affected the lives of the people there."
Though I like Bloodhawks vereion better, but hey this all interpretation and it can mean different things to different people.
I think this song is about how everyone is greedy and selfish. Probably wrong though.
I also think it's about the south
i think its about patriotism towards the south. i mean, they are southerners from virginia, so...u kno?
Second thoughs about this one. Again, probably wrong. I can see where you guys would think its about the South. This time, I think it might be about the American Indians, and how its their land, but they're powerless.
"Roaring concrete and steel washes you in blood." - Reference to cities? "One man's paradise is another man's living hell." "Generations ago made this place my own The roots are deep and strong Carry them wherever I go."
hmmm, boodhawk i'd say your onto something, but the fact is they're from the south so...who knows.
I think it's about finding solace in everything you have. "I do not covet any man's life" is an important line, because while it seems like everyone wants something more, he is satisfied with how he is. And that he'll take the humility of his provincial views, but it'll only make him stronger. It's kind of a reference almost to the 10th commandment, and a lashing out all those who do, particularly in the cities, where fashion, greed, and lust rule our minds. It's about security in a world of insecurity.
yup, it's about the South and how everybody still thinks that they hate black people and are intolerant when they say they have a Southerners pride. "The misconception still remains"
this song is sick, favorite part is "The past screams injustice on Southern night wind Whips Manacles Chains Musket balls A dark history never forgotten Only misconception remains"
also think it has something to do with the msiconceptions the Civil War left on the south