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.
So the floodgates open but nothing comes out
I'm feeling no relief in my head, just doubt
But my heart keeps telling me 'hold your ground
You'll never learn a thing if you bail out now'
And I'm lonely again tonight
I can feel it like a knot in my side
They keep saying this is part of the ride
But I'm not getting stronger
Yet hold me against the light
And do you see any bullet inside?
Wouldn't find one if you magnified
Because you've got the wrong girl
Had my fingers around the back of your chair
You'd never miss a thing but you missed me there
And I just kept thinking 'Am I prepared
To pull it out from under your trusting stare?'
Now the house is quiet as a hollow head
And I'm walking round bumping into things you said
This has not been as easy as I thought it would
I'd be cooling down the fire if I thought I could
But I'm lonely again tonight
I can feel it like a knot in my side
They keep saying this is part of the ride
But I'm not getting stronger
Yet hold me against the light
And do you see any bullet inside?
Wouldn't find one if you magnified
Because you've got the wrong girl
I'm feeling no relief in my head, just doubt
But my heart keeps telling me 'hold your ground
You'll never learn a thing if you bail out now'
And I'm lonely again tonight
I can feel it like a knot in my side
They keep saying this is part of the ride
But I'm not getting stronger
Yet hold me against the light
And do you see any bullet inside?
Wouldn't find one if you magnified
Because you've got the wrong girl
Had my fingers around the back of your chair
You'd never miss a thing but you missed me there
And I just kept thinking 'Am I prepared
To pull it out from under your trusting stare?'
Now the house is quiet as a hollow head
And I'm walking round bumping into things you said
This has not been as easy as I thought it would
I'd be cooling down the fire if I thought I could
But I'm lonely again tonight
I can feel it like a knot in my side
They keep saying this is part of the ride
But I'm not getting stronger
Yet hold me against the light
And do you see any bullet inside?
Wouldn't find one if you magnified
Because you've got the wrong girl
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Page
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i love this song, too - LOVE her use of lyrics.
i hear this and i think it's about an unfaithful relationship. from what i gather from the lyrics, she's some married guy's fling on the side. "the floodgates open but nothing comes out" like he's pouring out his 'feelings' for her, even though he's married to someone else. nothing real becomes of the words he says. "I'm feeling no relief in my head, just doubt". she's not sure she's buying it anymore.
"but my heart keeps telling me, hold your ground - you'll never learn a thing if you bail out now" she's staying put - for the meantime.
"and I'm lonely again tonight - I can feel it like a knot in my side" it's starting to bother her that she has to share him with someone else... she's being shortchanged, and maybe her conscience is bothering her as well - for his wife's sake.
"they keep saying this is part of the ride - but I'm not getting stronger" obviously this kind of relationship is like this, but she's realizing that it's not healthy for her.
"Yet hold me against the light - Can you see any bullet inside? - You wouldn't find one if you magnified - 'cuz you've got the wrong girl" this isn't going to be the end of her. she's stronger than that.
"I've got my fingers around the back of your chair You'd never miss a thing But you'd miss me there And I just keep thinkin' 'Am I prepared to pull it out from under your trusting stare?'"
she has the power to end the relationship, reveal everything to his wife and 'pull the chair out from under him' - but she's not convinced that she wants to do that... but it's certainly crossed her mind.
"And the house is as quiet as a hollow head - and I'm walking around bumping into things you've said" while he's gone away, she's trying to convince herself one way or the other whether he's really in this for her, or whether he'll leave her for his wife - and one thought contradicts the next. but the reality is, he's not with her right now, is he?
"this has not been as easy as I thought it would - I'd be cooling down the fire if I thought I could" she knew the relationship she was getting into, but didn't know it would affect her so much. but she really does like him - and he's good at putting her on. she's kind of stuck where she is because of her emotions.
she repeats the opening words at the end - as if this cycle of thoughts is going on again and again and again.
-- i can't relate personally to the experience, but the first time i heard it, it's what i thought she was singing about. other songs on the album allude to this kind of situation as well...