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.
if you were anywhere near his door
you saw it swing open and you heard the moon roar
trying to yank herself right out of her orbit
the whole natural world,
painted red, just like a target
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
on the slow thick morning of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
and you could feel his features in the air
a wide smile and perfect hair
he had complete control of the rising tides
and a medicine bag hanging at his side
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the flowing blue world of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
and the rain came down liike water from a faucet
i saw him at the crossroads, but i never saw him cross it,
one minute he was on this side,
and the next he was be over on the other.
so went his rounds, one sad patient after another.
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the crushed velvet world of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the impossibly large office of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
you saw it swing open and you heard the moon roar
trying to yank herself right out of her orbit
the whole natural world,
painted red, just like a target
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
on the slow thick morning of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
and you could feel his features in the air
a wide smile and perfect hair
he had complete control of the rising tides
and a medicine bag hanging at his side
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the flowing blue world of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
and the rain came down liike water from a faucet
i saw him at the crossroads, but i never saw him cross it,
one minute he was on this side,
and the next he was be over on the other.
so went his rounds, one sad patient after another.
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the crushed velvet world of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
it was a cold dark day
with low clouds standing in the way
and the stars jockeying for position
in the impossibly large office of the death-dealing physician
(oh yeah) x4
Lyrics submitted by shewouldnt
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"if you were anywhere near his door you saw it swing open and you heard the moon roar trying to yank herself right out of her orbit the whole natural world, painted red, just like a target"
The "natural" flow of things and the world is rebelling and thrown off by what he is doing. That goes along with the "painted red" statements, and even "the stars jockeying for position" (Nature trying to take it's control back).
"he had complete control of the Rising Tide"
He has complete control over pregnancy and life.
"and the rain came down like water from a faucet i saw him at the crossroads, but i never saw him cross it, one minute he was on this side, and the next he was be over on the other. so went his rounds, one sad patient after another."
I believe this is referencing the actual "procedure" and how fast and simple it is. Plus the symbolism of "water from a faucet". His "sad patients" are the fetuses.
In closing this may be sung as one of John's "Characters" who have different opinions than him because I know John is very Pro-Choice. I am as well and am just posting my analysis of the song not my "opinion" at all.
-Richard