This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Good morning, son
I am a bird
Wearing a brown polyester shirt
You want a Coke?
Maybe some fries?
The roast beef combo's only nine ninety five
But it's okay
You don't have to pay
I've got all the change
Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry
Good morning, son
Twenty years from now
Maybe we'll both sit down
And have a few beers
And I can tell
You 'bout today
And how I picked you up
And everything changed
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things
Everybody knows
It sucks to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
You'll try and try
And one day you'll fly
Away from me
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
Good morning, son
(Good morning, son)
I am a bird
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things
Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it, oh
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry
I am a bird
Wearing a brown polyester shirt
You want a Coke?
Maybe some fries?
The roast beef combo's only nine ninety five
But it's okay
You don't have to pay
I've got all the change
Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry
Good morning, son
Twenty years from now
Maybe we'll both sit down
And have a few beers
And I can tell
You 'bout today
And how I picked you up
And everything changed
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things
Everybody knows
It sucks to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
You'll try and try
And one day you'll fly
Away from me
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
Good morning, son
(Good morning, son)
I am a bird
(Good morning, son)
(Good morning, son)
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things
Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it, oh
We're still fighting it
We're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry
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More Featured Meanings
When We Were Young
Blink-182
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No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think the lyrics are pretty straightforward, but I can read a little more into them.
We often hide our insecurities and feelings towards change. Change is inevitable - whether we accept this or not. People will be born, live, and die. There will be joy, tragedy, and plenty of monotony. Life continues on, even if have problems dealing with this. Some people can adapt or change without being fazed: "She changed address and haircuts and boyfriends and lightbulbs, it's easy".
Others can't handle changes without feeling as if they're losing control over everything, e.g. "I must give the impression that I have the answers for everything, you were so disappointed to see me unravel so easily".
"But it's only change, only everything I know" - a bit sarcastic/wry. It's "only" everything you know.
"Mother misses her baby but I only wanted to be me" I think this refers to feeling pressure to stay the same for someone else - namely a parent. Children grow into adults with attributes their parents may not have envisioned. Not everyone becomes the person their parent wants them to be, and we have to be ourselves and pursue our own dreams.
"I stay focused on details, it keeps me from feeling the big things But watch the microscope long enough, things that seem still are still changing" Again, self-explanatory. As said before, this song is about underlining control issues. It's hard to accept that we cannot control virtually any parts of our world. We can focus on small things that we CAN control and ignore the bigger picture, but eventually something will happen to bring us back to reality.
It's a beautiful song. I relate to the lyrics since I tend to be scientific minded to avoid feeling overwhelmed by things beyond my control. Then minor changes occur and the sh*t hits the fan. It IS a soothing song, actually, I agree with the comment above. :)