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.
Rolling through the canyon blasting heartbreaker
I see your famous face riding next to me
We smile at each other 'cause we know we know each other
But damn if I'm going to talk to you again
I always thought that you were funny
I always thought we could be friends
But the way you treated her in the end...
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
Are barely bright enough to light her way
So she covered herself with sorrow and shame
And smoke and mirrors and fame
And fake love, angry love, bad love, and sad love
And damn if I didn't almost do the same
And now sometimes I think I see her
And I can almost hear her cry
I hear those chilling words she chose to say goodbye
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
Are barely bright enough to light her way
He was predictable, cliche, and cruel to you
He made it ugly, and he made it high-school
He said I love you, I need you, I want you, I'll feed you
I get you, I've got you, I'll catch you and I'll keep you
My sweet, you will never be sad again
He said my sweet, you will never be sad again
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
I swear sometimes I can almost hear her say
We're just bones and a name
We all go out the way we came
So don't you try to tell me that love is all we need
I see your famous face riding next to me
We smile at each other 'cause we know we know each other
But damn if I'm going to talk to you again
I always thought that you were funny
I always thought we could be friends
But the way you treated her in the end...
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
Are barely bright enough to light her way
So she covered herself with sorrow and shame
And smoke and mirrors and fame
And fake love, angry love, bad love, and sad love
And damn if I didn't almost do the same
And now sometimes I think I see her
And I can almost hear her cry
I hear those chilling words she chose to say goodbye
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
Are barely bright enough to light her way
He was predictable, cliche, and cruel to you
He made it ugly, and he made it high-school
He said I love you, I need you, I want you, I'll feed you
I get you, I've got you, I'll catch you and I'll keep you
My sweet, you will never be sad again
He said my sweet, you will never be sad again
All the horses and all the men
Couldn't bring her back again
We tried so hard
We couldn't save her day
All the millions and billions
Of stars that shine into her eyes
I swear sometimes I can almost hear her say
We're just bones and a name
We all go out the way we came
So don't you try to tell me that love is all we need
Lyrics submitted by BrownBabu84
Bones And A Name Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
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what's the story behind this one? famous face? dave grohl? louise post? what's going on here...
Yeah, in an interview with Nina she said it's about Louise & Dave Grohl...
Q - One song on the album that really struck me was “Bones and a Name.” What’s the story behind that one?
Nina - "The song is about what happened with Louise and Dave Grohl. I was [once] driving up into the hills, and I saw Dave in a car right next to me. We looked at each other and then both looked away. Yeah, sure, it’d be fun to hang out with [Dave] and talk to [him] again but he really destroyed my best friend.