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.
It's not yet 6
The suns not up
And father take away this cup is running through my throbbing head
Because if he had I'd be dead
Feeling like I'm feeling now
In between the skies and clouds
Where everyone's identity is just a picture card they need
I came from California with an appetite for my own myths
Of music, love, and what they mean
I'm told it's borderline obscene
I tried to write this song before
But had no one to write it for
My fellow travelers vacant stares leave it up for you to care
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
You came from Illinois with a cup of your very own to sip
Never on route for very long
Just there and doing something wrong
Or so your friends and parents said
But if you hadn't you'd be dead
What you've been given doesn't scare me
All your sights and sounds prepare me
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
Damn this cup
Bring me a bowl
If I can't saturate my soul
With you and him who drank it first
And last I'm ready for the worst
It's way past two and you want me there
Well he needs me here
So you have to share
I'm crying 'cause I'm in love with you
You're crying because you have no clue
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
The suns not up
And father take away this cup is running through my throbbing head
Because if he had I'd be dead
Feeling like I'm feeling now
In between the skies and clouds
Where everyone's identity is just a picture card they need
I came from California with an appetite for my own myths
Of music, love, and what they mean
I'm told it's borderline obscene
I tried to write this song before
But had no one to write it for
My fellow travelers vacant stares leave it up for you to care
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
You came from Illinois with a cup of your very own to sip
Never on route for very long
Just there and doing something wrong
Or so your friends and parents said
But if you hadn't you'd be dead
What you've been given doesn't scare me
All your sights and sounds prepare me
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
Damn this cup
Bring me a bowl
If I can't saturate my soul
With you and him who drank it first
And last I'm ready for the worst
It's way past two and you want me there
Well he needs me here
So you have to share
I'm crying 'cause I'm in love with you
You're crying because you have no clue
I could write a song and have the Lord put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out
Looking in at the passengers from the wing
I'm nowhere and you're everything
Lyrics submitted by sevenislucky
I'm Nowhere and You're Everything Lyrics as written by Chris Thile
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is beautiful. i've been listening to it for about a year and no meaning has really seemed to jump out at me..
The impression I got: In this song it seems as if he's torn between home (he mentions where he's from and his father... aka his roots) and a place where the person he loves lives. The cup represents the sharing of the people and places he feels most important to him. The title implies that he could be anywhere in the world but his love still means everything. But he has love for both people and both places so he's torn. It seems as if he's in a long-distance relationship and is ready to take off and leave home for the one he loves.
Well, I don't know how much I will say I know precisely what Chris is referring to, but I do know, that "Father take away this cup" is a famous saying of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:39 - "Oh My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me" Mark 14:36 - "Abba, Father... Take this cup away from Me" Luke 22:42 - "Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from Me"
It could be that Chris's religious belief leads to the rest of verse one. Christian's believe that it was Jesus' following through with His sacrifice (His cup) that sets mankind free.
and "If he had" taken the cup away from Christ, "I'd be dead, feeling like I'm feeling now: I'm nowhere and you're everything"
I think Thile is expressing his contempt for the vanity of His lifestyle up to this point. If we read the rest of the verses, we begin to see him describe his lifestyle and the person whom he is speaking to, their lives are both burdensome with hopeless vanities.
"I could write a song and have the Lord, put you and me in a cup he tries to pour out" A reference to Thile weaving his own "myths" (verse 2) and beliefs completely in vain.
I'm nowhere. This is the point he's at in life, beginning to make the realizations of just what is "everything"