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.
"It was very close yesterday
I thought for sure they would break
But this attack that I have planned
A massive strike across open land
In the center they will break
But plan it well, everything's at stake
We'll hit 'em hard, not a silent gun
Before the infantry's begun
Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"
"General Lee, I must tell you straight
I believe this attack will fail
No 15,000 men ever made
Will overtake that ridge today
A mile charge over open ground
With Yankee cannon gunnin' us down"
"We do our duty, we do what we must
And in my plan you will trust"
Thousands die, on this day
"Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"
The rebel cannon break the silence
One-hundred fifty guns make up their cannonade
They must destroy the union center
Before the infantry can launch their grand assault
The Yankees are returning fire
The Earth shakes violently
In Washington D.C. Lincoln feels the Earth shake
What happens here this day
The fate of this nation
In the balance it will hang
Consumed with the pain
The courage of the blue
The valor of the grey
So very sad but true
Consumed with the pain
The Virginians are the chosen
In wait behind the trees on Seminary Ridge
Longstreet's slow to give the order
The lines emerge, a mile, 15,000 men
The charge begins in all its grandeur
To the copse of trees)
For many of these men, they know it is their last
The slaughter now ensues
Bodies fall like rain
They valiantly pursue
Yet doomed to remain
At the double quick they charge
The canister rips through them
To the mouth of hell they march
Glory, the only gain
"We're almost there my boys
I've never served with finer
We must push forward boys
And bayonet the Yankee tyrants
To the copse of trees we charge
To crush the union center
And when they turn and run
An open road leads us to freedom"
"It's over now, we are retreating
I never thought that we'd be beaten
All this blood is on my hands
The thousands dead due to my plan
I am responsible, all of it is my fault
I thought us invincible
Is this God's will after all?
I look across this blood soaked land
All this blood is on my hands
God forgive me, please forgive me
It's all my fault, the blood is on my hands"
I thought for sure they would break
But this attack that I have planned
A massive strike across open land
In the center they will break
But plan it well, everything's at stake
We'll hit 'em hard, not a silent gun
Before the infantry's begun
Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"
"General Lee, I must tell you straight
I believe this attack will fail
No 15,000 men ever made
Will overtake that ridge today
A mile charge over open ground
With Yankee cannon gunnin' us down"
"We do our duty, we do what we must
And in my plan you will trust"
Thousands die, on this day
"Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"
The rebel cannon break the silence
One-hundred fifty guns make up their cannonade
They must destroy the union center
Before the infantry can launch their grand assault
The Yankees are returning fire
The Earth shakes violently
In Washington D.C. Lincoln feels the Earth shake
What happens here this day
The fate of this nation
In the balance it will hang
Consumed with the pain
The courage of the blue
The valor of the grey
So very sad but true
Consumed with the pain
The Virginians are the chosen
In wait behind the trees on Seminary Ridge
Longstreet's slow to give the order
The lines emerge, a mile, 15,000 men
The charge begins in all its grandeur
To the copse of trees)
For many of these men, they know it is their last
The slaughter now ensues
Bodies fall like rain
They valiantly pursue
Yet doomed to remain
At the double quick they charge
The canister rips through them
To the mouth of hell they march
Glory, the only gain
"We're almost there my boys
I've never served with finer
We must push forward boys
And bayonet the Yankee tyrants
To the copse of trees we charge
To crush the union center
And when they turn and run
An open road leads us to freedom"
"It's over now, we are retreating
I never thought that we'd be beaten
All this blood is on my hands
The thousands dead due to my plan
I am responsible, all of it is my fault
I thought us invincible
Is this God's will after all?
I look across this blood soaked land
All this blood is on my hands
God forgive me, please forgive me
It's all my fault, the blood is on my hands"
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