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.
I have been listening, such an ancient song
My eyes are closed but I never sleep
I felt transparent and saw that lash on your eyes
You waved me twice on over to my seas
[Chorus]
We found ourselves none in this city
You said our songs' cruel, it sounds hissy
brand food is ruling my sanity
Scream to your entrance
I felt simply in
Night lights are swayed on
I prayed for death
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
My name, feel, feel, and feel all tight
My name feel, feel, your love was right
I lip sync, have to pretend to conversation-sigh
You didn't know how, you've never even tried
Attraction leeches, but never ever dies
We're leaving next week, behind your risky eyes
[Chorus]
Night lights are swayed on
I prayed for death
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
[Chorus]
Circle, circle and turn around
The little white lies won't make a sound
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
[Chorus: x3]
My eyes are closed but I never sleep
I felt transparent and saw that lash on your eyes
You waved me twice on over to my seas
[Chorus]
We found ourselves none in this city
You said our songs' cruel, it sounds hissy
brand food is ruling my sanity
Scream to your entrance
I felt simply in
Night lights are swayed on
I prayed for death
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
My name, feel, feel, and feel all tight
My name feel, feel, your love was right
I lip sync, have to pretend to conversation-sigh
You didn't know how, you've never even tried
Attraction leeches, but never ever dies
We're leaving next week, behind your risky eyes
[Chorus]
Night lights are swayed on
I prayed for death
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
[Chorus]
Circle, circle and turn around
The little white lies won't make a sound
Circle and turn around, A closer sky
[Chorus: x3]
Lyrics submitted by MochaLatte
In This City Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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I think this song is about how life in a big city can come to be too much, at cartain times. The "we found ourselves none, in this city" line refers to privacy as the city is crowded with people, maybe as many as to feel suffocated, and maybe "pray for death."
This is no way "bashing" life in a city, I live in one and it's just one bands' opinion.
I have the impression Enon mainly sings about how hard it is to have a rolling conversation (if you know what i mean) not only this song, but too, as an example, Natural Disasters. Especially the couplet about "have to pretend to conversation-sigh" is very obvious.
Gawd, I've been turning this track like twenty times today. I like it far too much.
i think the line "we found ourselves none, in this city" just means they feel meaningless in the crowds and no one would notice or care if they're there or not.
the lyrics as listed on this page of the band website - enon.tv/hocus/vt.none/inthismonsoon.html - are actually:
i have been listening such an ancient song my eyes are closed but I am not asleep i felt transparent when I saw the lights in your eyes u waved me twice on a way to mercy
we found ourselves numb in this city u said our song's cruel, it sounds hissy prelude is ruling my sanity screen to your entrance i walked simply in
Night lights are swayed on, gray water circle and turned around across sad skies
my name, free will and we all die my name, free will your lie was right
a lip sync how u pretend our conversation sigh u didn't know how u never even try attraction we chase could never ever die but i'm leaving next week behind your wisky eyes
we found ourselves numb in this city u said our song's cruel, it sounds hissy
circle circle and turn around the little white lies won't make a sound circle circle and turn around across sad skies
we found ourselves numb in this city u said our song's cruel, it sounds hissy