Dear child, they're asking us to move
I watched her taking off her shoe
(Let the shore tide take you in, let the shore tide in)
Unweary, I'm not quite rusty yet
This could be obvious to you
(Let the shore tide take you in, let the shore tide in)
In this short time we've been setting up

I've been trying to reach you
But my extension cord wouldn't reach that far
(Reach that far)
I've been patiently waiting
The indicator light is flashing on
(Flashing on)

Dear sleeper, you could've had the better bed
I loved to watch the way you grew
We're out, we're out the door
We're out, we're out the door
In this short time we've been setting up

I've been trying to reach you
But your extension cord doesn't reach that far
(Doesn't reach that far)
(Reach that far)
I've been patiently waiting
the indicator light is flashing on
(It's flashing on)
(Flashing on)

In this coma, sleepless dancing
We've been trying now

I've been trying to reach you but
Your extension cord wouldn't reach that far
Doesn't reach that far
Reach that far
I've been desperately waiting
The indicator light is flashing on
It's flashing on
Flashing on

I've been trying to reach you
But your extension cord wouldn't reach that far
Wouldn't reach that far
Reach that far

(Doesn't reach that far)


Lyrics submitted by breakmylimbs, edited by pixelcreme

Dear Child (I've Been Dying to Reach You) Lyrics as written by John Feldmann Anthony Green

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Dear Child (I've Been Dying To Reach You) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

19 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    "This song, I've Been Dying to Reach You, is really old. It hasn't changed since the day we wrote it. Lyrically, I was away from my girlfriend at the time. She was calling me non-stop and it was annoying, trying to get in touch with me and she knew where I was and what I was doing. We were arguing all the time, and that was sort of in my head. That song sort of came out of, you know "Stop calling me so much" and maybe thinking about it from her perspective and being like, "Yeah, I'm kind of a shithead". I don't know where, like, "I watched her taking of her shoes" came from. It's fucking creepy. I don't know where "Dear sleeper, you couldn't find a better bed" came from. I don't even know where that shit came from, it just came out of me when I was singing it. It felt right, so it's as close as you can get. I was in John Feldman's kitchen writing it, and he was just like, "Yo, you gotta write lyrics to this. And we're going to record it, today." So I started to try and write lyrics. Even back then I never thought, "What does this mean for my whole life and this song", I would think like "What feels good to sing". And I would look back on it and go "Oh, wow, this does kind of cohesively go together. It makes some kind of sense". It's almost better having gotten to that point without some kind of force. I kind of let it happen and if it doesn't make any sense, I would kind of guide it into the right direction." -Anthony Green (spin.com/articles/circa-survives-anthony-green-plays-solo-chats-inspiration)

    lendmeyourbrainon July 31, 2008   Link

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

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Gentle Hour
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,
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
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.
Album art
Magical
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.