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.
Speak. Speak your mind
You're always telling me I need to open mine
And wait, wait your turn
Then shut me out cuz' you've got nothing left to learn
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
Now here's the dose that you've been dishing out:
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
Oh, I'm wrong - I'm wrong again
But not because of where I stand but where I've been
And it burns, you know it burns like hell
To know there's nothing left to do but wish you well
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
I've been good enough to stay and hear you out
But you're wrong - You're never wrong
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
You're always telling me I need to open mine
And wait, wait your turn
Then shut me out cuz' you've got nothing left to learn
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
Now here's the dose that you've been dishing out:
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
Oh, I'm wrong - I'm wrong again
But not because of where I stand but where I've been
And it burns, you know it burns like hell
To know there's nothing left to do but wish you well
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
I've been good enough to stay and hear you out
But you're wrong - You're never wrong
You say there's nothing wrong with being proud
So, tell me what you love and say it loud
I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
If you're listening this is how much it hurts
Lyrics submitted by crziblonde08
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I see it a little differently.
The songwriter already knows the relationship's over. But he wants an explaination for why he is hurting so much. He needs closure.
So he is telling her: (1st verse)"Now is your chance to get everything out.(Speak your mind). You were never afraid to criticize before, so why are you afraid to hurt me with the truth now?(You're always telling me I need to open mine). Give me a chance to talk to you... At least act like you will hear me, even though I know you aren't listening, because you (foolishly) think you know everything about yourself, and life, and love already. (And wait, wait your turn Then shut me out cuz' you've got nothing left to learn)
Chorus: You say that your pride is an okay thing to have,(You say there's nothing wrong with being proud) but you don't seem very proud of what you have done or are doing. So tell me why you never gave us a real chance.(So, tell me what you love and say it loud) Tell me what it was that always kept us from being happy. And here is my 2 cents, if you care.(If you're listening this is how much it hurts)
2nd verse: You think that because I'm not you, because I haven't been through the things you have, that I can't understand, that I can't know what to do or how you feel.(I'm wrong again, but not because of where I stand but where I've been). And it hurts more than you could ever know, it's killing me, but I it's over, and I know it.(And it burns, you know it burns like hell) It hurts to know that we will never work and all I can do for you is hope you find the happiness you are looking for, I hope you are okay. I hope one day you let someone try to love you.(To know there's nothing left to do but wish you well)
Chorus variation: I was big enough to sit here, knowing you never let me in, you lied to me, decieved me with your feelings, and let you try to explain yourself. (I've been good enough to stay and hear you out). But I'm right... this time I am right(about you never giving us a real shot.)(But you're wrong - You're never wrong).
Chorus variation: This whole time I went along with what you told me when you said you loved me, you wanted me.(I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt) And now I am torn up inside because of it.(If you're listening this is how much it hurts)