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 may as well try semaphore
As words no longer work
This fool's feeling cornered
And he acted like a jerk
He'd tell you he was sorry
If that made good the hurt
It's too late now for sorry
It's too late now for words
We survive despite our desire to stray
Hell to pay, thought you knew my desires
It's innate, it's not going away
I hope you're not going away
It's a question of convenience
How pain, with time, will fade
Surrendered to acceptance
Dark night gives way to day
It was meant to be a gesture
That mark across your face
It's too late now for sorry
It's too late now for grace
We survive despite our desire to stray
Hell to pay, thought you knew my desires
It's innate, it's not going away
Hell to pay, thought you knew
Hell to pay, thought you knew
Thought you knew, thought you knew
As words no longer work
This fool's feeling cornered
And he acted like a jerk
He'd tell you he was sorry
If that made good the hurt
It's too late now for sorry
It's too late now for words
We survive despite our desire to stray
Hell to pay, thought you knew my desires
It's innate, it's not going away
I hope you're not going away
It's a question of convenience
How pain, with time, will fade
Surrendered to acceptance
Dark night gives way to day
It was meant to be a gesture
That mark across your face
It's too late now for sorry
It's too late now for grace
We survive despite our desire to stray
Hell to pay, thought you knew my desires
It's innate, it's not going away
Hell to pay, thought you knew
Hell to pay, thought you knew
Thought you knew, thought you knew
Lyrics submitted by MaskOfSanity
Semaphore Lyrics as written by Lawrence Gott James Patrick Glennie
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.