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.
Beware, who's that man standing by himself?
He walks the line between life and death.
Pay his price and he'll do anything,
Anywhere, he does not care.
He'll never let you get too close to him,
You see his eyes, realize,
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He goes to places only he can tell,
He just don't run, he's made his hell.
You're lucky you don't have to share his fate,
'Cause all he sees is decievery.
He knows that every passing face he sees
Could very well be his defeat.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
Soldier of fortune.
He might, he might.
Soldier of fortune.
You're on the run tonight, you're on the run tonight.
Soldier of fortune.
Do you like your life?
Soldier of fortune.
You're on the run tonight.
He goes to bed and dreams of cloudy skies
A dream is all he needs, he cries.
And if the sun will shine too bright today,
He closes his eyes, pretends it's great.
He wonders if there'll ever come a time
To leave behind those needless cries.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real, yeah, he's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
When he's real, he's real, he's real, ooh.
He walks the line between life and death.
Pay his price and he'll do anything,
Anywhere, he does not care.
He'll never let you get too close to him,
You see his eyes, realize,
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He goes to places only he can tell,
He just don't run, he's made his hell.
You're lucky you don't have to share his fate,
'Cause all he sees is decievery.
He knows that every passing face he sees
Could very well be his defeat.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
Soldier of fortune.
He might, he might.
Soldier of fortune.
You're on the run tonight, you're on the run tonight.
Soldier of fortune.
Do you like your life?
Soldier of fortune.
You're on the run tonight.
He goes to bed and dreams of cloudy skies
A dream is all he needs, he cries.
And if the sun will shine too bright today,
He closes his eyes, pretends it's great.
He wonders if there'll ever come a time
To leave behind those needless cries.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
He's real, yeah, he's real.
The man's a soldier of fortune.
When he's real, he's real, he's real, ooh.
Lyrics submitted by Mattbluhalofan
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