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.
This red-haired girl of mine tore a pinecone from the pine, to cut into her palm,
singing the song her sinking lover sung.
I shut my eyes, ripped the train from off the line, but a sudden gust of snow
blew through a hole in my girl's clothes.
Well, my girl knows she's not all right, and I don't mind.
Just give me time, just give me time, baby, give me time.
Her stinging eyes, and her sixteen-hour drive, and our shared, transparent rope,
and our icy dive through hope
I'll memorize, and I'll cut into my mind. I can't believe it can be so.
I won't believe that my girl froze.
Well, my girl knows that I'm coiled tight and green inside.
Just give me time, just give me time, baby, give me time.
And that weight you hold, it's getting light, and, love, I know you'll lift it easily up high.
Just give it time, just give it time. Baby, just give me time. Baby, just give me time.
Just give me time...
singing the song her sinking lover sung.
I shut my eyes, ripped the train from off the line, but a sudden gust of snow
blew through a hole in my girl's clothes.
Well, my girl knows she's not all right, and I don't mind.
Just give me time, just give me time, baby, give me time.
Her stinging eyes, and her sixteen-hour drive, and our shared, transparent rope,
and our icy dive through hope
I'll memorize, and I'll cut into my mind. I can't believe it can be so.
I won't believe that my girl froze.
Well, my girl knows that I'm coiled tight and green inside.
Just give me time, just give me time, baby, give me time.
And that weight you hold, it's getting light, and, love, I know you'll lift it easily up high.
Just give it time, just give it time. Baby, just give me time. Baby, just give me time.
Just give me time...
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can someone please suggest what this song could mean? i have no idea but i love it the only clue i have is that before playing it live will once said 'im now going to sing a song about my ex girlfriend...'
I love it too. Generally speaking, I always thought it sounded like the narrator's girlfriend had been hurt in a past relationship, and because of that she doesn't completely trust him yet. It's implied that he's jealous over the situation (the "coiled tight and green inside" part), but he tells her it's okay because he'll get over it with time. And he believes that she'll overcome it as well (the last verse). I love how it seems to go from talking about himself to talking about her, changing from "just give me time" to "just give IT time."
But that being said, some of the specific lines are very opaque to me. I have no idea what "tore a pinecone from the pine/to cut into her palm" could possibly mean, to give just one example. :-P Whatever it's about though, it's really beautiful.
I kind of find it interesting that Will said it was about an ex-girlfriend though, just because it doesn't seem like he writes about himself (at least not so directly, anyway) very often.
yeah thats true he doesn't tend to write about himself, but i think he did more often in their ealier work (like this ep) and he just hides them. certainly in the 3 most recent albums he writes about fictional characters.
its a beautiful song. i've heard travis nelson say in an interview that this is his all-time favourite song by okkervil river.
i find it really lulling, sort of meditative, this song helps me get to sleep... the repitition of that line just sounds so pleading and oh i just love will to death