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 stuck with writing songs just to forget
What they really were about.
And these words are bringing me so deeply into
That I don't think I can dig my way out.
I couldn't breathe you in like I need to, and the words don't mean a thing.
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
I'm counting all the things I could've done
To make you see that I wanted us to be
What I go to sleep and dream of.
I want you to know that I'd die for you.
I'd die for you.
I couldn't breathe you in like I need to, and the words don't mean a thing.
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
And if you are alone, make sure you're not lonely.
'Cause if you are, I blame myself
For never being home.
I know I'm not the only one
Who will treat you like they should
Like you deserve.
I'm stuck with writing songs just to forget...
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two, thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
There's nothing (there's nothing) there's nothing left to prove.
What they really were about.
And these words are bringing me so deeply into
That I don't think I can dig my way out.
I couldn't breathe you in like I need to, and the words don't mean a thing.
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
I'm counting all the things I could've done
To make you see that I wanted us to be
What I go to sleep and dream of.
I want you to know that I'd die for you.
I'd die for you.
I couldn't breathe you in like I need to, and the words don't mean a thing.
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
And if you are alone, make sure you're not lonely.
'Cause if you are, I blame myself
For never being home.
I know I'm not the only one
Who will treat you like they should
Like you deserve.
I'm stuck with writing songs just to forget...
So I'll sing this song to you for the last time.
And my heart is torn in two, thinking of days spent without you.
There's nothing left to prove.
There's nothing (there's nothing) there's nothing left to prove.
Lyrics submitted by gator_nation
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“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.
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This song, written by John Vesely was originally released exclusively as a bonus track for preorder sales of A Twist in My Story.
John has shared a deeply personal autobiographical list of songs inspired by love and heartbreak. In the beginning with his first album Awake and his followup album A Twist in My Story John chronicles his relationship with his now ex wife and mother of his son Candace Vesley.
To fully understand the meaning of this song you must first understand the reason Secondhand Serenade is what it is. John was originally a bass guitar player who played in many local small time bands prior to his marriage to Candace.
He shared stories with Candace of music and bands he was once a part of. The problem was he couldn't show her the music and his talent because of the difficulty of one serenading with the use of a bass guitar so he went out and picked up an acoustic guitar, learned to play it and wrote some new songs for his wife to serenade her. The name Secondhand Serenade was coined because his fans were hearing the "Secondhand" Serenade but it always stood that his songs were an intimate connection between him and his wife.
If you listen to the tone between Vesely's first album Awake and his second, A Twist in My Story you can hear a profound contrast between love (in awake) and heartbreak (in A Twist in My Story) because they decided to get divorced between these albums.
Now that you understand a little background prepare for the goosebumps. In the chorus of "Last Time" John broken-heartedly sings "So I'll sing this song to you, for the last time" as an end to his relationship with his wife.
Since Secondhand Serenade was grown organically and inspired by the love that he had for his wife he is essentially saying goodbye to what Secondhand Serenade originally stands for.
John also expresses deep guilt and responsibility for the ending of their marriage in the line " And if you are alone, make sure you're not lonely. Cause if you are I blame myself for never being home", probably an inadvertent result of all the touring he was doing at the time.
The ultimate paradox is the fact that his absence was caused by the very inspiration that made Secondhand Serenade what it was. What brought them together subsequently tore them apart.
This is just my opinion but was my original thought the moment I heard this song when I preordered the album. John is very intimate with his true fans and chose to only release this to preorders. Only his true fans at the time spent money in advance for the album and only his real fans could truly understand the meaning behind this song. I feel this was an especially personal song and was released exclusively for that reason. Later on the song was added to the album for the rest of the public to enjoy.
Be sure to listen to all of the songs on this album. With this new information you will further understand all the other songs on this album. They are excellent songs that will bring chills for years to come. Also, listen to his newer albums and see if you can spot the songs that have a tone of his love and sorrow lingering from his love with Candace. They usually his best songs and easiest to spot because they're truly written from the heart.
Enjoy :)