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.
Do it again
And I'll see you tomorrow
I want to get it
You've got something to borrow
Can't make it feel right on my own
That's when I turn you on again
I buy it but it don't measure up
What is the missed ingredient?
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
Under the skin
It's not so easy to swallow
Don't reel me in
To find my dreams are so hollow
What is it you got I don't get?
I watch you fumbling again
Look dreamy behind your cigarette
Know it ain't true now
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
Ooh wee
Ooh wee, ooh
We all find you easy so amuse us
Don't get too heady you might abuse luck
You're starstruck
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
And I'll see you tomorrow
I want to get it
You've got something to borrow
Can't make it feel right on my own
That's when I turn you on again
I buy it but it don't measure up
What is the missed ingredient?
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
Under the skin
It's not so easy to swallow
Don't reel me in
To find my dreams are so hollow
What is it you got I don't get?
I watch you fumbling again
Look dreamy behind your cigarette
Know it ain't true now
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
Ooh wee
Ooh wee, ooh
We all find you easy so amuse us
Don't get too heady you might abuse luck
You're starstruck
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
I, I see you fade
I, I see you fade away
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These lyrics do not correspond to what I'm hearing. This song is too spectacular to have lyrics full of fail.
Here's my take, being I haven't seen these lyrics elsewhere:
Do it again and I'll see you tomorrow. I want to get it. You've got something to borrow. Give me, give me you right on my own. Cause when I throw you on again. I buy it but it don't measure up. What is the missing ingredient?
I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always. I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always.
Under the skin is not so easy to swallow. Don't rub me in--divide my dreams are so hallow What is you get I don't get? I watch you fumblin' again. Cause dream easy on your cigarette, through it ain't through now.
I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always. I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always.
We all find new ways: Brings me so unhuman Try and get two heads makes you un-unhuman Start trying.
I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always. I see you're vain. I see you're vain, always.
///
She could also be saying "Your vein", right? At first I thought it was "your pain" at first as well. And I have almost no idea what she's saying in the refrain in which she is practically whispering.
i hear "i, i see you fade... away"
the person who originally posted these lyrics obvvy got a bunk copy of the album
It seems I'm gonna confuse things here!! I hear line 4 ('And when I see you all again' or 'Cause when I throw you on again') as 'Just wait, do you want to get it' other than that from what I can hear SMS seems spot on with the lyrics.
All three of you guys are wrong. The person who originally posted these lyrics got them Santogold's myspace... Therefore making them the correct lyrics. Don't believe me:
See here: blog.myspace.com/index.cfm
They have updated the lyrics since then, noiredieu. However, thanks for the link. :3
This song is phenominal!!! I love it....BUT WHATS IT MEAN???????? Oh well....good song.
heroin addict?
an addiction to a guy, perhaps an ex? that's what i thought it meant to me, since that's what i've experienced...
"do it again...and i'll see you tomorrow?" one night stand, or maybe a fling. friends with benefits gone awry?
i'm not sure if i'm right, or if this is just me.
i reckon your on the right lines, i think its about being infactuated by some guy and 'Can't make it feel right on my own' it dosent feel right when your around them, kinda ?<br />
I think that this song is about celebrity idolization and commercialism. People are easily amused by what celebrities do, and try to follow them, buying the same things as them but it doesn't make them happy, so why ask why, what's the missing ingredient. Once one has reached fame, they learn that they're dreams are hollow, not making them happy.
i agree with both nutmeg and minilicious. I believe this song can be interpreted in over a billion different ways. no one is really wrong. minilicious: ur opinion makes complete sense. addiction to a guy for sure. maybe not the one night stand part but still. it sounds like santigold is sick of some guy at one point but then at the next she is desperate for him. also making it sound like she is almost mad at herself for being so stupid to flip flop like that. nutmeg: it does sound like it could be used in relation to fame or publicism. in fact, it almost sounds like being inspired by maybe bad behavior from a celebrity or something or wanting fame so bad and being jealous of one. but also being inspired by one who is... well... inspirational. hense starstruck. one of my other interpretations is this being about being sick of wanting someone so much. then u got them but they didn't please u and all u did is fight or whatever. but u kept getting back together over and over and over again. this annoys santogold so she writes "i.. i see u fade away". it sounds like when she says that she means "im breaking up with u now and ur fading away. but just watch because i will see u tomorrow when one of us wants us back." idk. please no one tell me im stupid or reply to my message saying "that is so wrong" because that is just my interpretaion. :)