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.
as the Moon rose and the hour grew late
the day help on a Coconut estate
raked up the dry leaves the fell dead from the Trees
which they burned in a pile by the lake
the Beetle King summoned his men,
and from the top of a Rhododendron stem:
calling all volunteers!
who can carry back here
the Great Mystery that's lit once again?
one Beetle emerged from the crowd
in a fashionable abdomen shroud:
I'm a Professor, you see, that's no mystery to me...
I'll be back soon, successful and proud
but when the Beetle Professor returned
he crawled on all six, as his wings had been burned
and described to the finest detail all he'd learned
but there was neither a light nor a heat in his words
the deeply dissatisfied King
climbed the same stem to announce the same thing
but in his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal
with a silver Padparadscha ring
the Lieutenant stepped out from the line
as he lassoed his thorax with twine, thinking
I'm stronger and braver,
I'll earn the King's favor, and
One day all he has will be mine!
but for all the Lieutenant's conceit
he, too, returned singed and admitting defeat:
I had no choice, please believe, but retreat...
it was bright as the sun, but with 10x the heat!
it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes,
tho smothered with sticks it advanced undeterred
as it carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky,
my Lord, like a flock of
d a r k, v a n i s h i n g b i r d s.
the Beetle King slammed down his fist:
why, your flowery description
is no better than his!
we sent for the Great Light and you bring us this??
we didn't ask what it seems like,
we asked what it IS!
O, His Majesty's hour at last has drawn nigh!
the elegant Queen took her leave from his side and,
without understanding but without asking why
gathered their Kids to come bid their goodbyes
the father explained:
you've been somewhat deceived...
we've all called me your dad,
but your True Dad's not me
no, I lay next to your mom
and your forms were conceived
but your Father is the Life within all that you see
He fills up the ponds as He empties the clouds,
holds without hands and speaks without sounds,
provides us with the Cow's waste and coconuts to eat
giving one that nice salt-taste and the other a sweet,
sends the black carriage the day Death shows its face
thinning our numbers with Kindness and Grace
and just as a Flower and its Fragrance are one
so must each of you and this Father become
now distribute my scepter, my crown and my throne
and all we've called ‘wealth' to the poor and alone...
and, without further hesitation,
without looking back home
the King flew headlong into the blazing unknown!
and as the Smoke King curled higher and higher,
the troops, flying loops around the telephone wire, said:
our Beloved's not dead,
but His Highness instead
has been utterly changed into Fire!!!
the day help on a Coconut estate
raked up the dry leaves the fell dead from the Trees
which they burned in a pile by the lake
the Beetle King summoned his men,
and from the top of a Rhododendron stem:
calling all volunteers!
who can carry back here
the Great Mystery that's lit once again?
one Beetle emerged from the crowd
in a fashionable abdomen shroud:
I'm a Professor, you see, that's no mystery to me...
I'll be back soon, successful and proud
but when the Beetle Professor returned
he crawled on all six, as his wings had been burned
and described to the finest detail all he'd learned
but there was neither a light nor a heat in his words
the deeply dissatisfied King
climbed the same stem to announce the same thing
but in his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal
with a silver Padparadscha ring
the Lieutenant stepped out from the line
as he lassoed his thorax with twine, thinking
I'm stronger and braver,
I'll earn the King's favor, and
One day all he has will be mine!
but for all the Lieutenant's conceit
he, too, returned singed and admitting defeat:
I had no choice, please believe, but retreat...
it was bright as the sun, but with 10x the heat!
it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes,
tho smothered with sticks it advanced undeterred
as it carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky,
my Lord, like a flock of
d a r k, v a n i s h i n g b i r d s.
the Beetle King slammed down his fist:
why, your flowery description
is no better than his!
we sent for the Great Light and you bring us this??
we didn't ask what it seems like,
we asked what it IS!
O, His Majesty's hour at last has drawn nigh!
the elegant Queen took her leave from his side and,
without understanding but without asking why
gathered their Kids to come bid their goodbyes
the father explained:
you've been somewhat deceived...
we've all called me your dad,
but your True Dad's not me
no, I lay next to your mom
and your forms were conceived
but your Father is the Life within all that you see
He fills up the ponds as He empties the clouds,
holds without hands and speaks without sounds,
provides us with the Cow's waste and coconuts to eat
giving one that nice salt-taste and the other a sweet,
sends the black carriage the day Death shows its face
thinning our numbers with Kindness and Grace
and just as a Flower and its Fragrance are one
so must each of you and this Father become
now distribute my scepter, my crown and my throne
and all we've called ‘wealth' to the poor and alone...
and, without further hesitation,
without looking back home
the King flew headlong into the blazing unknown!
and as the Smoke King curled higher and higher,
the troops, flying loops around the telephone wire, said:
our Beloved's not dead,
but His Highness instead
has been utterly changed into Fire!!!
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
it's "raked up the dried leaves" i'm also going to say the grammar needs correcting in the following line: "there was neither a light, nor a heat in his words." to me, it should be: "there was neither a light, nor a heat, in his words." in my opinion the "professor" is a symbol and a commentary on modern science. he thinks he can easily explain everything, but when faced with the realization of the inexplicable, he resorts to dismissing its existence entirely. thus, in his words the "light" and the "heat" don't exist. (basically God doesn't exist)