Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Hopeful days and stormy nights
I ain't got much to win, not much to lose
Under the burden of my loneliness
It feels so hard to win, so hard to lose
I won't enjoy my collection of stamps
When I'm six feet under the ground
Lonely streets and dusty roads
Lord it's a long way to go back home
Under the burden of your heart of stone
You shrug your shoulders as I decompose
Please keep a eye on those red haired boys
Someday they'll play drum with my shinbones
Now your chewing-gum on my coffin
Take me where I long to be
I can't believe that you want me to wear
The evening tails that will fit my corpse
I don't need a tuxedo
There's no bouncer in the after world
I only just left my dying bed and
Your making curtains out of my shroud
Don't you dig my grave with some excavator
Use a blood stained sword and a snow-white horse, please
A last ride in the city's hearse
Few miles away from heaven above
A few more minutes 'till they bury me
A few more weeks 'till worms lick my bones
I won't enjoy my collection of stamps
When I'm five feet under the ground
Stormy days and lonely nights
Lord it's a long way to go back home
I ain't got much to win, not much to lose
Under the burden of my loneliness
It feels so hard to win, so hard to lose
I won't enjoy my collection of stamps
When I'm six feet under the ground
Lonely streets and dusty roads
Lord it's a long way to go back home
Under the burden of your heart of stone
You shrug your shoulders as I decompose
Please keep a eye on those red haired boys
Someday they'll play drum with my shinbones
Now your chewing-gum on my coffin
Take me where I long to be
I can't believe that you want me to wear
The evening tails that will fit my corpse
I don't need a tuxedo
There's no bouncer in the after world
I only just left my dying bed and
Your making curtains out of my shroud
Don't you dig my grave with some excavator
Use a blood stained sword and a snow-white horse, please
A last ride in the city's hearse
Few miles away from heaven above
A few more minutes 'till they bury me
A few more weeks 'till worms lick my bones
I won't enjoy my collection of stamps
When I'm five feet under the ground
Stormy days and lonely nights
Lord it's a long way to go back home
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Love this song!...the second part of the song. What's T-I-U? And K-R-I-A-E E-L-E-I-S-O-N??
Phoenix is great!!
Anyone attending a church service in the Eastern churches (whether they be Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Eastern Catholic), will find the phrase KYRIE ELEISON (Greek: Κύριε ἐλέησον) or its equivalents in other languages to be the most oft-repeated phrase.
The various litanies, so popular in Eastern Christianity, generally have Lord, have mercy as their response, either singly or triply. Some petitions in these litanies will have twelve or even forty repetitions of the phrase as a response.
The phrase is the origin of the Jesus Prayer, beloved of Eastern Christians belonging to the Byzantine rite, and increasingly popular amongst Western Christians today.
Some deep meaning I'm sure, but put it down more to a cooler way of saying 'lawd have mercy!' :)
I love this song, 'funky squaredance', totally appropriate name!
Totally agree with jmzr22. And I don't know how to correct lyrics, but the line "Remember all the game I have tried" sounds a lot more like "Remember all the years that I tried", especially in the live version.
The submitted lyrics are incomplete. Here is the complete set of lyrics.
Hopeful days and stormy nights I ain't got much to win, not much to lose Under the burden of my loneliness It feels so hard to win, so hard to lose I won't enjoy my collection of stamps When I'm six feet under the ground
Lonely streets and dusty roads Lord it's a long way to go back home Under the burden of your heart of stone You shrug your shoulders as I decompose Please keep a eye on those red haired boys Someday they'll play drum with my shinbones
Now your chewing-gum on my coffin Take me where I long to be
I can't believe that you want me to wear The evening tails that will fit my corpse I don't need a tuxedo There's no bouncer in the after world I only just left my dying bed and Your making curtains out of my shroud
Don't you dig my grave with some excavator Use a blood stained sword and a snow-white horse, please
A last ride in the city's hearse Few miles away from heaven above A few more minutes 'till they bury me A few more weeks 'till worms lick my bones I won't enjoy my collection of stamps Now I'm five feet under the ground
Stormy days and lonely nights Lord it's a long way to go back home
All the boys raise your hands up in the air (yeah) Now all the girls raise your hands up in the air (yeah) Everybody one more time (yeah) Let's all have a real good time together One, two, three, let's go
Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance
Tonight's the night girls, yeah Come on, let's get all antsy
Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance
Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance
Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance
You seem so glad my place is free Now you're dancing on my grave What a cruel way to treat a friend
Live my life in dignity Well I must confess Looking for a place
Everybody has to demonstrate And everybody has to see you wait Thinking of a real way to see
What matters is the love that you give Remember all the thing that you've seen Does another go and never seen
Nothing in my forgotten years Life got a little serious Give me real self-esteem
It's buried in my P-A-S-T Give a lot, a whole lot recieved Heaven-sent T.N.T.
Uh, can't go further, losing
I cant go losing my mind Remember all the game have I tried Buried in my P-A-S-T
We call love late at day Late at night I dropped in hate Dropping in a heaven fantasy
Heaven knows what I'm gonna do Living in a lonesome avenue Done in the P-A-S-T
Go without the love I receive K-A-R-I-E E-L-E-I-S-O-N Mmm, everybody, has god to demonstrate
Everybody has a T-I-U He has things you'd never do Thinking in a real avenue
What matters is the love that you give
Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance Funky squaredance, funky squaredance, funky squaredance
don't know what that means, but great lyrics overall. one of the best videos ever, wonderful tune... i love Phoenix!!
I was looking for the accurate lyrics of the last part just now. Seems like you posted them just for me :O
Sounds like a really personal song to me (the last part at least). Some thoughts and lessons from his life I guess.
This is a massively underrated song. The guitar solo at 5.45 minutes in is one of the track's several highlights.