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.
Feeling low like I'm ready to crack and
Slowly moving from bending to breaking
I stay diluted to avoid the pain
But I give her more than she can take
I'm only killing the only haven
The still asylum I haven't destroyed yet
And when it?s gone, I'm left with nothing
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
I told her she was killing me and
She said she was already dead
Every ounce of emotion fades
And I promise you it'll end someday, I hope
I'm only hoping that this is common
She's all I'm left with when all this fades away
And when it?s gone, I'm left with nothing
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
She doesn't need it, she doesn't need it
My optimism is masking my failure
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
Slowly moving from bending to breaking
I stay diluted to avoid the pain
But I give her more than she can take
I'm only killing the only haven
The still asylum I haven't destroyed yet
And when it?s gone, I'm left with nothing
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
I told her she was killing me and
She said she was already dead
Every ounce of emotion fades
And I promise you it'll end someday, I hope
I'm only hoping that this is common
She's all I'm left with when all this fades away
And when it?s gone, I'm left with nothing
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
She doesn't need it, she doesn't need it
My optimism is masking my failure
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and I cannot feel it
This isn't what we counted on
This isn't what we said it?d be
The fantasy is dead and long forgotten
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What?? Has no one commented on this masterpiece of music and poetry? Well, nevermind, this song means a lot to me. This person is giving all to a girl that doesn't give anything back to him.. Unrequited love? Very common x) Whatever Great song.
Seems to have 2 meanings to me...
Face value, it seems to be about a relationship gone bad. Both the singer and his partner are having problems, neither is solving them.
But then looking at the chorus, I realized "This isn't what we counted on" suggests he wants it to mean more - I think it's about divorces. So many people get married expecting something different, then find out they have to work at their problems to actually live together. "My optimism is masking my failure" - so many married couples go on living their lives, then come home and it's just problems.
I'm not sure, but that's what I got out of it....
I think it's about two people in a relationship. They're both dealing with problems at the same time and can't count on the other how they usually did.
"I stay diluted to avoid the pain, but I give her more than she can take." "I’m only killing the only haven, the still asylum I haven’t destroyed yet. And when it’s gone, I’m left with nothing."
She's everything to him, and he doesn't want to hurt her. The relationship is failing, and the good times that they'd imagined aren't playing out. He's still got a strong sense of devotion and love for this girl, but he feels as though maybe they stopped feeling for eachother.