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.
Ollie told me I'm a fool
So I walked on down the road a mile
Went to the house that brings a smile
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
And what do you think he said to me?
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
Use your days and save your nights,
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
But what am I supposed to do
Read the writing on the wall
I heard it when I was very small
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Wash my hand in lye water
I got a date with the captain's daughter
You can go and tell your brother
We sure gonna love one another
Oh
You may be right and ya might be wrong
I ain't gonna worry all day long
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
My old car froze up last night
Ain't no reason to hang my head
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
Oh, oh, oh, oh
And if I thought it would do any good
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
So I walked on down the road a mile
Went to the house that brings a smile
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
And what do you think he said to me?
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
Use your days and save your nights,
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
But what am I supposed to do
Read the writing on the wall
I heard it when I was very small
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul that you were born with
To grow old and never know
Wash my hand in lye water
I got a date with the captain's daughter
You can go and tell your brother
We sure gonna love one another
Oh
You may be right and ya might be wrong
I ain't gonna worry all day long
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
My old car froze up last night
Ain't no reason to hang my head
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
Oh, oh, oh, oh
And if I thought it would do any good
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
Lyrics submitted by hari66, edited by AudioMonkey
When You Awake Lyrics as written by Robbie Robertson Richard Manuel
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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