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.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
Lyrics submitted by sidelines, edited by scottith, smileyoureontv
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"it's an act I THINK, she's just pretending."
not "an actor thing"
This whole song feels like a silent movie or a play being put on in a house of mirrors. Fucking in-cred-ible
Oh my god... this song just reminds me of working backstage with my high school drama team! There’s this hectic 'overwhelmed but you must keep going' feeling you get when nerves, stress, and confusion overrun your mind before a performance... and this song, for me, encompasses it.
I think it's "the way THAT suckers do" not bloodsuckers.
concur
also it's "she had a line in the play if you waited to hear it."
Also; great guitar. =D
Still interpreting lyrics.
This song's just wonderful! The best on this album.
its definitely "its an ACT I THINK she's just pretending"
this song has a lot of errors, it's “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and a shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Nope, definitely bloodsuckers...makes sense too.
great intro track for the new album