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.
Watch the train pass by
Makes for another great break down
You've closed your eyes
Mr. Stars and Stripes
But where is the human emotion?
I feel it lacks these days
Plight of right-wing faith
They take a beautiful concept
Bend it their way
We all died that day
Slain in a blood-red agenda
This aint no place for me
II.
I walked in to the party through the back door singing
"I don't want no more,"
I don't want no more
There were those who were with me a few who were annoyed
And I don't know how it got to this point
Don't know how it got to this point
I don't know how it got to this point
Now I'm looking at America through someone else's dream
And it's so much worse than they made it seem
I rode in the morning and the morning came alive
and I saw the world with both of my eyes
It took that long until I could realize
I saw the world with both of my eyes
And I walked out
III.
"Ashes to ashes" means what comes next after we die
is the same as before?
But I can't shake this feeling I'm meant to be meaning much more
Unfeasible, intangible, maybe unstoppable
Feeling I've yet to explore
But I can't taste this cigarette burning me down to the core
And I think I'm just wasted and reckless and often ignored
IV.
Here we go again, the next great social fight for rights
So listen up, Ye sons and daughters
Tell the new-age kids their time has come
So call to all the earth and waters
Make the chosen stand where they belong
So starting now we're gonna make it
Let our generation seize the day
To forward-thinkers, run and take it
Won't you listen when you hear me say,
This is the dawn of a new day
And this is the end of the old ways
This is the dawn of a new day
This is the end of the old ways, tonight!
Save yourself, save yourself, save yourself tonight
Save yourself, save yourself, save yourself tonight!
Watch the train pass by
Makes for another great break down
You've closed your eyes
Mr. Stars and Stripes
But where is the human emotion?
I feel it lacks these days
Plight of right-wing faith
They take a beautiful concept
Bend it their way
We all died that day
Slain in a blood-red agenda
This aint no place for me
II.
I walked in to the party through the back door singing
"I don't want no more,"
I don't want no more
There were those who were with me a few who were annoyed
And I don't know how it got to this point
Don't know how it got to this point
I don't know how it got to this point
Now I'm looking at America through someone else's dream
And it's so much worse than they made it seem
I rode in the morning and the morning came alive
and I saw the world with both of my eyes
It took that long until I could realize
I saw the world with both of my eyes
And I walked out
III.
"Ashes to ashes" means what comes next after we die
is the same as before?
But I can't shake this feeling I'm meant to be meaning much more
Unfeasible, intangible, maybe unstoppable
Feeling I've yet to explore
But I can't taste this cigarette burning me down to the core
And I think I'm just wasted and reckless and often ignored
IV.
Here we go again, the next great social fight for rights
So listen up, Ye sons and daughters
Tell the new-age kids their time has come
So call to all the earth and waters
Make the chosen stand where they belong
So starting now we're gonna make it
Let our generation seize the day
To forward-thinkers, run and take it
Won't you listen when you hear me say,
This is the dawn of a new day
And this is the end of the old ways
This is the dawn of a new day
This is the end of the old ways, tonight!
Save yourself, save yourself, save yourself tonight
Save yourself, save yourself, save yourself tonight!
Lyrics submitted by jasonporter16
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