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.
Is this the New Year, or just another night?
Is this the new fear, or just another fright?
Is this the new tear, or just another desperation?
Is this the finger, or just another fist?
Is the kingdom, or just a hit-and-miss?
I miss direction most in all this desperation
Is this what they call freedom?
Is this what you call pain?
Is this what they call discontented fame?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
I'm singing this one, like a broken piece of glass,
For broken hearts and broken noses in the back
Is this the new year, or just another desperation?
You push until you're shoving
You bend until you break
Do you stand on the broken fields where your fathers lay?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
(Ah)
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
Is nothing here worth saving?
Is no one here at all?
Is there any net left that could break our fall?
It'll be a day like this one
When the sky falls down
And the hungry and poor and deserted are found
Are you discontented?
Have you been pushing hard?
Have you been throwing down this broken house of cards?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
Is there nothing left now?
Nothing left to sing?
Are there any left who haven't kissed the enemy?
Is this the new year, or just another desperation?
Does justice ever find you?
Do the wicked never lose?
Is there any other song to sing beside these blues?
And nothing is okay,
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Is this the new fear, or just another fright?
Is this the new tear, or just another desperation?
Is this the finger, or just another fist?
Is the kingdom, or just a hit-and-miss?
I miss direction most in all this desperation
Is this what they call freedom?
Is this what you call pain?
Is this what they call discontented fame?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
I'm singing this one, like a broken piece of glass,
For broken hearts and broken noses in the back
Is this the new year, or just another desperation?
You push until you're shoving
You bend until you break
Do you stand on the broken fields where your fathers lay?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
(Ah)
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
Is nothing here worth saving?
Is no one here at all?
Is there any net left that could break our fall?
It'll be a day like this one
When the sky falls down
And the hungry and poor and deserted are found
Are you discontented?
Have you been pushing hard?
Have you been throwing down this broken house of cards?
It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
Is there nothing left now?
Nothing left to sing?
Are there any left who haven't kissed the enemy?
Is this the new year, or just another desperation?
Does justice ever find you?
Do the wicked never lose?
Is there any other song to sing beside these blues?
And nothing is okay,
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
'Til the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
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Oh yeah, and I forgot to add, this is one ofthe most beautiful song I have EVER heard. I bought the CD on the way to a party (went and got the person who's party I was going to another CD) and I played 1, 2, 3 and 12. When I got home and got in my bed, I listened to 1 through 6 and when I got to 6...I put it on repeat and I swear, that song stayed on repeat for about 3 days...it was all I listened to. I've known about Switchfoot since their first Album the Legend of Chin came out in 1997 and I started listening to them in 2001 when Learning to Breathe came out but listening to that song was the moment I realized Jon Foreman was my role model..and since that day back in October, when I was laying in my bed crying because the song was so beautiful (and it's weird because I'm not that much of an emotional person for stuff like that), Switchfoot, and more specifically Jon Foreman has been such an influence on me and my music career.