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.
You never change your mind once it's made up
Unless it's to crawl back on your knees
Is that the way you want it?
You get back to the wall
And put your hands up
It's a holdup
You give up like every time before
That is how you survived the war
You rarely multiply all these divisions
You give yourself the least of parts
I put on my green felt hat, pack our provisions
Playing a merry Prince of Thieves
You're not gonna lose this one
You don't have to cut and run
I think you can choose to love and what is more
That is how you survived the war
Now in a summer's day, spring a ripened plum
How will you live under the sun?
You follow the open road, remembering the guns
When you get lost under the trees
Unless it's to crawl back on your knees
Is that the way you want it?
You get back to the wall
And put your hands up
It's a holdup
You give up like every time before
That is how you survived the war
You rarely multiply all these divisions
You give yourself the least of parts
I put on my green felt hat, pack our provisions
Playing a merry Prince of Thieves
You're not gonna lose this one
You don't have to cut and run
I think you can choose to love and what is more
That is how you survived the war
Now in a summer's day, spring a ripened plum
How will you live under the sun?
You follow the open road, remembering the guns
When you get lost under the trees
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
to sum it up with another song title....'love is a battlefield' :)
To me this is about someone who does whatever is good for them, not carin gabout other people. its the classic "Well, you got out of that situation and saved yourself, but alot of people hat eyou now"
I agree somewhat with Porcupine179 but I think it can also mean that this person they're referring to chooses the easy way out, the path of least resistance. So then after the war, did they really learn anything or were they even affected at all by it?
That's just how I see it, by facing challenges we learn lessons, especially by our mistakes, if you just play it safe all the time, or take the selfish route- the experience isn't the same. Just how I see it!
I think this is one person trying to get the other to open up. Someone has survived a war (whether real or metaphorical) and it has closed them off to real human connection. "You're not gonna lose this one," she says. She thinks he has it in him to choose love instead of isolation and "safety."
i fully agree with kacheson. i think the subject of the song has been in some screwed up relationships, so they react to anything real and dangerous by running away. but the singer believes this person can overcome the past.