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 got home this morning
With the sun right in my eyes
And there was no warning
Yes, it took me by surprise
As it hit me like an act of God
Causing my alarm
That I had not become a cephalopod
I still had legs and arms
Yes, I still had legs and arms
And today was supposed to be the day
Molecules decide to change their form
Laws of physics lose their sway
And youthful indiscretion now is suddenly the norm
With the good kids sprouting horns
Yeah, yeah
And today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Was supposed to be
Today was supposed to be opposite day
Those who can't quite function
In society at large
They're going to wake up on this morning
And find that they're in charge
While those the world's set up for
Who are really doing quite well
They're gonna wake up in institutions
In prison or in hell
In prison or in hell
And today was supposed to be the day
Molecules decide to change their form
Laws of physics lose their sway
And youthful indiscretion now is suddenly the norm
With the good kids sprouting horns
Yeah, yeah
And today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Was supposed to be
Today was supposed to be opposite day
But if you think there's something else
Well, you're right
There is, there's something else
But if you think I'm gonna tell you, think again
Why should I even think of telling you what there is
Yeah, 'cause silence is knowledge and knowledge is power
I'm under explicit orders to dare not speak it's name
Listen up, I just work here, oh, I dare not speak it's name
I can't keep talking about it, oh, I dare not speak it's name
With the sun right in my eyes
And there was no warning
Yes, it took me by surprise
As it hit me like an act of God
Causing my alarm
That I had not become a cephalopod
I still had legs and arms
Yes, I still had legs and arms
And today was supposed to be the day
Molecules decide to change their form
Laws of physics lose their sway
And youthful indiscretion now is suddenly the norm
With the good kids sprouting horns
Yeah, yeah
And today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Was supposed to be
Today was supposed to be opposite day
Those who can't quite function
In society at large
They're going to wake up on this morning
And find that they're in charge
While those the world's set up for
Who are really doing quite well
They're gonna wake up in institutions
In prison or in hell
In prison or in hell
And today was supposed to be the day
Molecules decide to change their form
Laws of physics lose their sway
And youthful indiscretion now is suddenly the norm
With the good kids sprouting horns
Yeah, yeah
And today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Today was supposed to be
Not just another day
Was supposed to be
Today was supposed to be opposite day
But if you think there's something else
Well, you're right
There is, there's something else
But if you think I'm gonna tell you, think again
Why should I even think of telling you what there is
Yeah, 'cause silence is knowledge and knowledge is power
I'm under explicit orders to dare not speak it's name
Listen up, I just work here, oh, I dare not speak it's name
I can't keep talking about it, oh, I dare not speak it's name
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I think this song is partially about justice, and the lack thereof. The verse about "Those who can't quite function/In society at large" gaining power and those "Who are really doing quite well" losing all power reminds me of the Bible verse where Jesus says that the first shall be last, and the last first. But it isn't like that at all; the meek never inherit the earth and the rich never fall to ruin. Bird, in this song, is expressing disappointment and frustration that nothing ever changes, that opposite day never comes.
The very last verse makes me wonder though. I think it implies hope? That there is justice, we just have to work for it. Or it could mean just the opposite - people refuse to acknowledge the injustice, and so it remains in the world, unchallenged. One thing about it that I think I can safely say is that, per my interpretation, it's a different voice than the narrator of the rest of the song. I get this mainly through the change in tempo and melody, which the lyrics here don't reflect, but those who know the song know what I'm talking about! So it's someone different singing that verse. Who it is or what that means, I don't know.
I think that's Bird himself, breaking the fourth wall. If you can break a fourth wall in song, since there aren't any walls - anyway, stepping out of character to say something Mysterious, in a teasing way. "I just work here" is so funny.