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.
Halt
Nobody's allowed
Strictly verboten
Out, out, out, out
Bounds
Of course we know no bounds
Until, at least, and then
Trespass all the way down
They got it
And I want some
I can handle it
And I want some
Relax
Feel the pleasure inside
Error and trial
Collide, collide
You'll listen
I don't expect you to
We've lost
And something's all we can do
With a hip-hip-hop
And a flip-flap-flop
Gonna steal some bananas
From the grocer's shop
With your head in the clouds
And your trousers undone
Gonna shit on the carpet
Just like everyone
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
You've yet to discover
Discover the difference
The difference between
The moral and motto
They've got it
And I had some
I couldn't handle it
But I had some
Hold it in the light
And see right through it
For God's sake
Make a decision
Take it for a walk
And hold it hold it
Pin it on the wall
And fasten onto
Move into the bathroom
Oh yes, oh yes
Do what must be done
And don't say maybe
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
Nobody's allowed
Strictly verboten
Out, out, out, out
Bounds
Of course we know no bounds
Until, at least, and then
Trespass all the way down
They got it
And I want some
I can handle it
And I want some
Relax
Feel the pleasure inside
Error and trial
Collide, collide
You'll listen
I don't expect you to
We've lost
And something's all we can do
With a hip-hip-hop
And a flip-flap-flop
Gonna steal some bananas
From the grocer's shop
With your head in the clouds
And your trousers undone
Gonna shit on the carpet
Just like everyone
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
You've yet to discover
Discover the difference
The difference between
The moral and motto
They've got it
And I had some
I couldn't handle it
But I had some
Hold it in the light
And see right through it
For God's sake
Make a decision
Take it for a walk
And hold it hold it
Pin it on the wall
And fasten onto
Move into the bathroom
Oh yes, oh yes
Do what must be done
And don't say maybe
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
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@[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,
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.
I interpretate this song very personally now, so probably it was not what Ian intended. But to me, it's an autistic song.
I have Asperger Syndrome myself, a form of autism. And somehow the emotions in the first lines express something recognisable: not feeling welcome in many places, or just not fitting in, not feeling comfortable. The lines about the shitting on the carpet and especially the "this is the one for me" feel to me like saying it's not wrong to be different and that it's each to his own: regardless what you're into or who you are, it's not less worthy than the majority and there's no reason to hide your true self and your own way of being. "This is the one for me", it sounds so logical and normal, even if whatever it is is really not conform the mass. I hope I explain well where I am coming from. It's probably not the actual meaning, Ian very likely had something entirely different in mind. But to me it has become a bit of a personal anthem. It's also done extremely well live, Ian's voice sounds more rock-esque than in the old days and that somehow suits the rough character of this song.
I was obsessed with this song when I was fifteen and it made perfect sense to me at the time. finding it a bit harder to pin down the meaning now!
I remember considering it an enactment of existential revolt - looking the world squarely in the face, declaring it absurd and hopelessly corrupt, but determining to fight for something anyway. "We've lost, but something's all we can do" was always the key line for me. I'd been reading a lot of Camus at the time and it seemed to fit with a lot of his ideas (Sisyphean struggle etc)
As I say it all made a lot more sense when I was fifteen!
WOW! This is a GREAT song! For all thosw who don't know the Bunnymen or haven't listened to them for a while, have a listen...reacquaint yourself. They put out a lot of cool stuff, like this song.
I think Ian McCulloch said he tried heroin once, just once. Then this feels like the song about that. "I couldn't handle it but I had some"
I have my own personal NSFW interpretation of it being a song about someone trying anal sex for the first time, LOL. First it's like "Nobody's allowed [...] Out, out, out, out" and then it's "Trespass all the way down [...] I can handle it and I want some". Then it's "Relax. Feel the pleasure inside" "Collide, collide" and "With a hip-hip-hop and a flip-flap-flop" - the movements and sounds they're making. "This is the one called Heaven and this is the one for me". "Gonna steal some bananas from the grocer's shop" - He likes it so much that he's gonna use bananas on himself the next time.
Just my dirty mind...