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.
Well I know it isn't easy,
What a Devil's got to do
Sometimes hell is freezing,
And the souls all laugh at you,
Sometimes a fallen angel,
Comes stumbling in
And the sunlight of a stranger,
Can erase the dark of sin.
Well I paint the face of danger,
And I planned the whole event,
For a baby in a manger,
But I don't know where he went,
So I'm searching for his footprints,
Out in the snow,
You know I'd ask his father
But where'd that old man go?
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
And of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
And I know it can't be pretty,
What a preacher's got to do.
Pitch a slogan to a city,
And pretend you think it's true.
Should we sacrifice the living,
For the befit of the dead?
Or give the gift that keeps on giving,
And see the bigger truth instead.
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
And of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
Well I've been acting supernatural,
I've gotten into the unknown,
I've got a phantom in my bathroom,
And a werewolf on the phone,
And the captain's in the kitchen,
Cooking up some crime,
I've abandoned television,
For a vision in my mind
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
Could be the end of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
What a Devil's got to do
Sometimes hell is freezing,
And the souls all laugh at you,
Sometimes a fallen angel,
Comes stumbling in
And the sunlight of a stranger,
Can erase the dark of sin.
Well I paint the face of danger,
And I planned the whole event,
For a baby in a manger,
But I don't know where he went,
So I'm searching for his footprints,
Out in the snow,
You know I'd ask his father
But where'd that old man go?
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
And of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
And I know it can't be pretty,
What a preacher's got to do.
Pitch a slogan to a city,
And pretend you think it's true.
Should we sacrifice the living,
For the befit of the dead?
Or give the gift that keeps on giving,
And see the bigger truth instead.
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
And of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
Well I've been acting supernatural,
I've gotten into the unknown,
I've got a phantom in my bathroom,
And a werewolf on the phone,
And the captain's in the kitchen,
Cooking up some crime,
I've abandoned television,
For a vision in my mind
Growing undefined
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer.
Could be the end of human kind,
Faster and faster,
The speed of your cancer,
Like an airline disaster,
Why won't you answer me?
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
"end" of human kind