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.
I brought your face down on my head
It was something I rehearsed in a dream
You're too good looking for your own damn good
And you don't know what it could mean
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because in my drunken stupor
I've got to admire your ingenuity
And I nod my head, oh so wisely
To the rhythm of your cruelty
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because you want to have your price
And something you could hold your faith up to
I don't know how to tell you this
But you've got it coming all the way to you
You don't even know what it could mean
You don't even know what it could mean
I don't know what it could mean
We don't even know what it could mean
It was something I rehearsed in a dream
You're too good looking for your own damn good
And you don't know what it could mean
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because in my drunken stupor
I've got to admire your ingenuity
And I nod my head, oh so wisely
To the rhythm of your cruelty
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because you want to have your price
And something you could hold your faith up to
I don't know how to tell you this
But you've got it coming all the way to you
You don't even know what it could mean
You don't even know what it could mean
I don't know what it could mean
We don't even know what it could mean
Lyrics submitted by nightandday
Rhythm of Cruelty Lyrics as written by Devoto Adamson
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
To me this song is about a certain kind of controlling person who is self righteous and can't admit to what they feel, and being in relationship with that person. To me there's almost an element of sadomasochism in this-- of the speaker seeming almost to lust after the person even while being treated badly by them.