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.
I heard the old man say
"We need the rain, and I can feel it in my bones; they're aching."
I watch the sky in wait
And wish these waters ease my pain
Because my well is breaking
If you get next to me
And help me find simplicity
Then you could be the one to take me
To break me
And flood my soul
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
Gray clouds, they infiltrate
As every move you make
Gets me closer to clarity
While droplet drummers lead a complex beat
Increasing speed
Somehow accompanies our intensities
At first this cloud burst is pulling asunder
Lightning and thunder
Rain falls and you take me under
And flood my soul
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
So take off your shoes and stay a while
This might be the right time tonight
If it makes you feel good
Then it makes me feel all right
We should take down the curtains now
And make blankets here on the floor
A torrential downpour
With potential for more
We cease to fight this tension
That ignites us here in the dark
Cause tension causes friction
And this friction leads to sparks
The rain has filled this cup
And before it overflows
I wanna take you in now
Here it goes
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
We have just begun
You release me
Oh, release me
"We need the rain, and I can feel it in my bones; they're aching."
I watch the sky in wait
And wish these waters ease my pain
Because my well is breaking
If you get next to me
And help me find simplicity
Then you could be the one to take me
To break me
And flood my soul
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
Gray clouds, they infiltrate
As every move you make
Gets me closer to clarity
While droplet drummers lead a complex beat
Increasing speed
Somehow accompanies our intensities
At first this cloud burst is pulling asunder
Lightning and thunder
Rain falls and you take me under
And flood my soul
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
So take off your shoes and stay a while
This might be the right time tonight
If it makes you feel good
Then it makes me feel all right
We should take down the curtains now
And make blankets here on the floor
A torrential downpour
With potential for more
We cease to fight this tension
That ignites us here in the dark
Cause tension causes friction
And this friction leads to sparks
The rain has filled this cup
And before it overflows
I wanna take you in now
Here it goes
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
Waiting for your love, oh, to free me
So release me
Could you be the one to release me?
Oh, release me
We have just begun
You release me
Oh, release me
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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Although many Mae songs have religious undertones, I have always viewed this song as the build-up of a romatic relationship between two people.
Throughout the song a storm builds (ie a relationship) that finally climaxes in a torrential down pour too powerful to be held in. I agree with the idea perviously stated that the rain in this song is refering to love. I see the final down pour as the moment two people share intimacy so powerful it boarders on the spiritual.
A torrential downpour With potential for more We cease to fight this tension That ignites us here in the dark Cause tension causes friction And this friction leads to sparks
The rain has filled this cup And before it overflows I wanna take you in now Here it goes
At first this cloud burst is Pulling asunder Lightning and thunder Rain falls and you take me under And flood my soul
The rain has filled this cup and before it overflows
"Cause tension causes friction". That is what I hear.
think of rain being love... this song makes me think of somone who's been hurt. "could you be the one to release me? waiting for your love to free me" he's found somone he likes, and the harder it rains, the more he loves her. but he's questioning, are you the 'one'?
thats my interpretation, but thats only because of past events in my life.
thats a good one :]
Every now and then the lyrics of a Mae song are pregnant with spiritual faith (Christian faith.) ... this is one of those songs, although obscure enough to be talking about interpersonal relationships (man and woman) ... the lyrics use common scriptural imagery to conjure double entendre inclusive of prophetic longing for the "early and latter rains" to release, fill and establish his "broken well" to "overflowing" ...
Lets take down our curtains (living authentically with nothing to hide) and let the exposure (uncomfortable / tense but necessary baring of secrets) be a blanket in the shared intimacy with another ... in this case: his Beloved (Savior.) This is the release that he longs for and for which he is willing to endure tension and torrents and lightening and thunder.
I disagree, Yes Mae is indeed a Christian band but not all the music created by them is related to religion. I will say this song hints toward their spiritual beliefs but it is not the main theme.
I might be the only one, but I actually get a bit of a sexual undertone here . . . I think this is a really beautiful song with a lot more meaning than just "ooh let's have sex, moremoremore" and I think it talks about a deeper side to intimacy, perhaps the first time? I'm thinking it's like a romance that leads up to the first time for one/both of them.
The song builds up as their relationship builds up, and the climax of the song refers to the height of intimacy (ie sex) but in a way more like they've been planning it, or they both view sex as more like a really intense form of love rather than just simple physical pleasure.
Sorry my interpretation is a little less cute! A lot of the other comments on this seem plausible as well.