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.
You said you'd like to see me again
And then it all unravelled
I heard that you were seeing someone
Not such an insignificant other
It seems my moves were far too swift
In life, some things are worth the effort
I touched the place where your hair had been
I buttoned the shirt that you left 'round mine
Defacing pictures of famous people
On the train
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
In my wallet with your photobooth smile
And I wearing my waterproof jacket
Posterity has hold of us now
Am I just waiting for the next chapter?
We sleep tonight in seperate towns
At dusk, we see our disparate futures
I tore a sock to bind up your golden hair
We found a hotel bar to sustain our last night
In vain...
Defacing pictures of famous people
On the train
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
I'm just passing my time
With you on my mind
I'm just passing my time
No more late night calls
Where teardrops fall
No more late night calls
Where teardrops fall
Where teardrops fall
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
I'm just passing my time
With you on my mind
I'm just wasting my precious time
I'm just wasting my time
With you on my mind
And then it all unravelled
I heard that you were seeing someone
Not such an insignificant other
It seems my moves were far too swift
In life, some things are worth the effort
I touched the place where your hair had been
I buttoned the shirt that you left 'round mine
Defacing pictures of famous people
On the train
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
In my wallet with your photobooth smile
And I wearing my waterproof jacket
Posterity has hold of us now
Am I just waiting for the next chapter?
We sleep tonight in seperate towns
At dusk, we see our disparate futures
I tore a sock to bind up your golden hair
We found a hotel bar to sustain our last night
In vain...
Defacing pictures of famous people
On the train
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
I'm just passing my time
With you on my mind
I'm just passing my time
No more late night calls
Where teardrops fall
No more late night calls
Where teardrops fall
Where teardrops fall
Standing by The Monument
Just waiting for the rain
I'm just passing my time
With you on my mind
I'm just wasting my precious time
I'm just wasting my time
With you on my mind
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I know that’d you’ve already kind of wrapped this one up. And I understand it’s about the mixed up memories and experiences at Grey’s Monument, but it has always told me a slightly different story. A relationship and a failed one at that…
You said you'd like to see me again (something you’d say after a date) And then, it all unraveled (but then they broke up) I heard that you were seeing someone (She’s moved on) Not such an insignificant other (And it’s serious)
It seems my moves were far too swift (He went to physical and to fast) In life, some things are worth the effort (I should have taken it slow) I touched the place where your hair had been (he misses her) I pulled on the shirt that you left round mine (He’s still holding on to her memory)
Defacing pictures of famous people on the train (“We can do what we like because we are in love” It’s apparently a lie or possibly a memory) Standing by the monument just waiting for the rain (the monument is their relationship. He was waiting for this. He knew the “rain” or the break-up was coming)
In my wallet with your photobooth smile (He still keeps her with him, but it’s fake and lifeless) And I, wearing my waterproof jacket (I’m prepared for the end/”the Rain”) Posterity has hold of us now (whatever we had is past) Am I just waiting for the next chapter (Should I just move on?)
We'll sleep tonight in seperate towns (they are so far removed from one another/they think too differently) At dusk, we see our disparate futures (disparate means different… so this line is rather self explanatory) I tore a sock to bind up your golden hair (“I cared so much for you”) We found a hotel bar to sustain our last night in vain (They tried a quick fix, but it didn’t work)
Defacing pictures of famous people on the train Standing by the monument just waiting for the rain
No more late night calls Where tear drops fall (It was a rocky relationship) No more late night calls Where tear drops fall Tear drops fall (Tears are a representation of the rain)
Standing by the monument just waiting for the rain I'm just passing my time with you on my mind (He doesn’t know where to go without her) I'm just wasting my precious time (He need to move on but he can’t)
I'm just wasting my time with you on my mind *(Still in love)