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.
Ein junger Engel tritt vor den Tempel
Unter seinen Schwingen klebt ihr Speichel
Von seinen Wimpern tropft frisches Blut
Er offnet seine Hande und schreit nach mehr
Ich schliesse meine Augen und lecke ihre Flut
Auf den Stufen liegen faule Leiber
Erbrachte Liebesopfer von der Sonne verhermt
Vertrocknet sind auch meine Kusse
Die ich einst aus Liebe gab
Auf einem Felsen ausgebreitet
Zwischen den Klippen zerquetscht und niedergestreckt
Unter brennenden Fragmenten meines Zentrums
Streue ich meine Tranen in die Glut
Unter meinen Handen welken ihr Blumen
In meinem Mund gerinnt ihr Speichel
Ich reiss meinen Korper aus der Flut
Der Engel wirft die Schwingen in die Glut
Ich spucke meine Sunden
Er offnet seinen Schlund
Ich lecke seine Wunden mit meinem Mund
Ihr Herz hab ich gekusst
Ihr Fleisch auf dem Portal geliebt
Ihr Zunge versteinert am Fuss des Monuments
Und ihre Asche unter den Engeln verstreut
Ich will nur leben
Auf diesen Knien habe ich gelegen
Ich rief dich an mit diesem Mund
Diese Hande hielt ich dir bittend entgegen
Ich betete in dunkler Nacht
Ich flehte schreiend mit meiner letzten Kraft
Lass sie schweigen
Lass sie schlafen
Lass mich beten
Ich bitte dich
Ich will nur leben
Ich will leben
English translate: Jackal
A young angel appears before the temple
Her spittle clings under her wings
Fresh blood drops from her brows
He opens his hands and calls for more
I close my eyes and lick her flood of tears
Lazy bodies lie on the steps
Victims of love scorched by the sun
Dry are also my kisses
Which I once gave with love
Spread out on a cliff
Squashed between the cliffs and stretched out
Under burning fragments of my centre
I strew my tears into the glowing fire
Her flowers wither in my hands
Her spittle clots in my mouth
I wrench my body from the flood
The angel throws her wings into the glowing fire
I divest my sins
She opens her pharynx
I lick her wound with my mouth
I have kissed her heart
Loved her flesh on the portal
Her tongue petrified at the foot of the monument
And her ashes strewn under the angels
I just want to live
I have laid on these knees
I call you with this mouth
I beseechingly hold out my hands to you
I pray in the darkness of the night
Crying, I beseeched you with all my strength
Leave her in peace
Let her sleep
Let me pray
Please, I ask you
I just want to live
I want to live
Unter seinen Schwingen klebt ihr Speichel
Von seinen Wimpern tropft frisches Blut
Er offnet seine Hande und schreit nach mehr
Ich schliesse meine Augen und lecke ihre Flut
Auf den Stufen liegen faule Leiber
Erbrachte Liebesopfer von der Sonne verhermt
Vertrocknet sind auch meine Kusse
Die ich einst aus Liebe gab
Auf einem Felsen ausgebreitet
Zwischen den Klippen zerquetscht und niedergestreckt
Unter brennenden Fragmenten meines Zentrums
Streue ich meine Tranen in die Glut
Unter meinen Handen welken ihr Blumen
In meinem Mund gerinnt ihr Speichel
Ich reiss meinen Korper aus der Flut
Der Engel wirft die Schwingen in die Glut
Ich spucke meine Sunden
Er offnet seinen Schlund
Ich lecke seine Wunden mit meinem Mund
Ihr Herz hab ich gekusst
Ihr Fleisch auf dem Portal geliebt
Ihr Zunge versteinert am Fuss des Monuments
Und ihre Asche unter den Engeln verstreut
Ich will nur leben
Auf diesen Knien habe ich gelegen
Ich rief dich an mit diesem Mund
Diese Hande hielt ich dir bittend entgegen
Ich betete in dunkler Nacht
Ich flehte schreiend mit meiner letzten Kraft
Lass sie schweigen
Lass sie schlafen
Lass mich beten
Ich bitte dich
Ich will nur leben
Ich will leben
English translate: Jackal
A young angel appears before the temple
Her spittle clings under her wings
Fresh blood drops from her brows
He opens his hands and calls for more
I close my eyes and lick her flood of tears
Lazy bodies lie on the steps
Victims of love scorched by the sun
Dry are also my kisses
Which I once gave with love
Spread out on a cliff
Squashed between the cliffs and stretched out
Under burning fragments of my centre
I strew my tears into the glowing fire
Her flowers wither in my hands
Her spittle clots in my mouth
I wrench my body from the flood
The angel throws her wings into the glowing fire
I divest my sins
She opens her pharynx
I lick her wound with my mouth
I have kissed her heart
Loved her flesh on the portal
Her tongue petrified at the foot of the monument
And her ashes strewn under the angels
I just want to live
I have laid on these knees
I call you with this mouth
I beseechingly hold out my hands to you
I pray in the darkness of the night
Crying, I beseeched you with all my strength
Leave her in peace
Let her sleep
Let me pray
Please, I ask you
I just want to live
I want to live
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