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'm coming up for air so I can
Check myself again and I stand
Proven to the man but sheltered
Confidence we tend to shelf and
Unexpected hunger drives me
Just shut up and stand beside me
I don't need your understanding
I don't need to change a damn thing
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Nothing in between to fall through
I'm being myself who are you
You stand above and look down
You're just a plagaristic clown
You suck the life out of me
You keep track of the pity
And when this well becomes dry
You'll shed a tear for another lie
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah, yeah, yeah ooh
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Check myself again and I stand
Proven to the man but sheltered
Confidence we tend to shelf and
Unexpected hunger drives me
Just shut up and stand beside me
I don't need your understanding
I don't need to change a damn thing
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Nothing in between to fall through
I'm being myself who are you
You stand above and look down
You're just a plagaristic clown
You suck the life out of me
You keep track of the pity
And when this well becomes dry
You'll shed a tear for another lie
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah, yeah, yeah ooh
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Lyrics submitted by keepemseparated
Down And Out Lyrics as written by Erik Leonhardt Hugo Ferreira
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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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.
I think its about People who act like they are your friends because you are doing something great, but really arnt your friends and just want some of the glory. Or perhaps im wrong? hmm?
fake friends giving fake pitty
the song is about suicide. if you watch the video you'll understand.
It is written from the perspective of somebody that has a hard time relating to other people. He often feels alone because even his friends he feels are trying to change him and refuse to love him for how he is usually whether their friends are trying to change him or not.
"Just shut up and stand beside me I don't need your understanding I don't need to change a damn thing"
"Look for a reason that you have to start Acting like a friend that you are not"
Often when people feel like this, they think that their friends are not really their friends but are trying to use them. Often they think that nobody really knows them (despite how well people really do know them, this type of person is very transparent).
"There's so many things that you don�t know About my soul"
Sometimes they think people are fake and trying to screw them over by lying about who they are to get close to them.
"I'm being myself who are you You stand above and look down You're just a plagaristic clown You suck the life out of me You keep track of the petty And when this well becomes dry You'll shed a tear for another lie"
The reason that the video has a suicide theme is because often when they realize the reason they are lonely is all their own fault for driving people away usually cuz they are falsely thinking that everyone around him is fake and using him. Or because he has some kind of other significant person problems that drives away everyone but users (it is usually this one, think about it how often is the notion "everybody in the world is crazy except for me" true?). When people suddenly come to the realization that everything bad in their life is their own fault, one of two things will happen. They will try to change themselves, or will kill themselves.
Awesome song. One of Tantrics best imo, I loved it from the beginning.
Seems to be about standing by your friends, but I could be wrong.
I agree with Killerdudee. I think it's about "friends" who are only there to get some fame.
The song is definitely about companionship and turbulent relationships. I don't think it's about just friends, though, especially considering the lines
"Though I’m used to have you here It's doesn’t change the man I was When you found me"
He is addressing a specific person whom he is accustomed to having constantly at his side. I suppose it could be interpreted as dealing with friends, I think there is a more intimate component to this song that reminds me of "Breakdown". I think the point is that there is a troubled, complex relationship and he is accusing the other party of not being the friend he/she/they should be. It is a little open-ended though, and the mood is unambiguous.
I see it as someone(lover/close friend) trying to change someone, who is, somewhat broken, and shaping them into something else. but the "broken" one is all like, let me be, let me rediscover who I am, because for someone whose supposed to be a friend, you don't know the shit I've been through, so let me do my own thing....I guess that's kinda, in a manner of speaking, what it means.....great song, I love the violin parts
Oh the meaning is way too obvious.
Oh the meaning is way too obvious.