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.
Anthony, bullied at school
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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No Surprises
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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.
Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Wow, it feels like this song was written for me. In high school, I was always the quiet guy that nobody ever understood or paid attention to. I always felt different than everyone else. I would always get higher grades than most other kids and I was often bullied. Also, the part about sneaking out and smoking cigarettes completely describes me. At least I can laugh at all of those idiots from high school, because I like better music than them. Also, to top it off, my name is Anthony!