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.
Language City is a bad, old place
We all know
Where eyeballs float in space
We all know
We're tired, we can't sleep
It's crowded here, none of us leave
Language City don't mean a thing to me
Audiences, the same program is always on
When I interfere, it's best to avoid the law
When your wife wakes up and sees
Shut the blinds and block out the street
Language City don't mean a thing to me
All this working
Just to tear it down
All this working
Just to tear it down
Language City is a bad, old place
We all know
Eyeballs float in space
We all know
We're tired, we can't sleep
It's crowded in the street
Language City don't mean a thing to me
I been here so long my heart is a parking lot
Hollow feet rooted to the spot
But the fields are beyond belief
From the tower out to where I can see
Language City don't mean a thing to me
All this working
Just to tear it down
All this working
Just to tear it down
On the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone
Someone's counting the hours
In a paper room
In a paper room
In a paper room
Somebody's counting the hours
Know I know it's true
From above this room
Somebody's counting the hours
The hours
The hours
The houuuuurs
Oh the long bitter road
Let us down
Oh the ringing telephone
There's no one around
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
We all know
Where eyeballs float in space
We all know
We're tired, we can't sleep
It's crowded here, none of us leave
Language City don't mean a thing to me
Audiences, the same program is always on
When I interfere, it's best to avoid the law
When your wife wakes up and sees
Shut the blinds and block out the street
Language City don't mean a thing to me
All this working
Just to tear it down
All this working
Just to tear it down
Language City is a bad, old place
We all know
Eyeballs float in space
We all know
We're tired, we can't sleep
It's crowded in the street
Language City don't mean a thing to me
I been here so long my heart is a parking lot
Hollow feet rooted to the spot
But the fields are beyond belief
From the tower out to where I can see
Language City don't mean a thing to me
All this working
Just to tear it down
All this working
Just to tear it down
On the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone
Someone's counting the hours
In a paper room
In a paper room
In a paper room
Somebody's counting the hours
Know I know it's true
From above this room
Somebody's counting the hours
The hours
The hours
The houuuuurs
Oh the long bitter road
Let us down
Oh the ringing telephone
There's no one around
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
We are not at home
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
Hang on the telephone
Lyrics submitted by wrat
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I have a feeling that a lot of songs are a lot simpler than we make them. They have more to do with day to day struggles and some extended biblical allegory.