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.
Spending time
Convinced that it's mine with her
Just to keep her out of mind
Still I'll take care to see
Which way the wind blows
Notice how her hair curls
Pay no mind to the clown
Who sits to your side
Content to yield despite pride
He is a fool to assume
You'd spare a thought
I'm a thief who's just been caught
And I don't find it funny anymore
And so I won't play the part
I played before
Oh, no, not to you
I don't see you laughing anyway
And so I won't play a part
In your mistake, no way
Not unless you stay
Convinced that it's mine with her
Just to keep her out of mind
Still I'll take care to see
Which way the wind blows
Notice how her hair curls
Pay no mind to the clown
Who sits to your side
Content to yield despite pride
He is a fool to assume
You'd spare a thought
I'm a thief who's just been caught
And I don't find it funny anymore
And so I won't play the part
I played before
Oh, no, not to you
I don't see you laughing anyway
And so I won't play a part
In your mistake, no way
Not unless you stay
Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess, edited by minicuotas
Play the Part Lyrics as written by Jordana Shapiro Fabrizio Moretti
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Spending time, convinced that it's mine with her, just to keep her out of mind" I think in this verse, the singer is saying that he already knew this lady is someone else's woman and she's cheating on him with the singer but he just play along.
"Still I'll take care to see, which way the wind blows, notice how her hair curls" But then, he fell in love with the lady and noticing all her details, her little changes. I'd say, he's so deeply into her.
"Pay no mind to the clown,who sits to your side" He don't care about the guy she's in relationship with and he'd still love her the same.
"Content to yield despite pride" This is a bit tricky. I think the singer knew the guy is a temper, as the guy is content to yield (always happy to have something to argue about) despite pride (despite he is the MAN of the relationship and he's always want to win the arguments and not always listening to the lady.)
"He is a fool to assume, you'd spare a thought" The guy found out abt the lady's act of cheating and he's a fool in the eyes of the singer bcs the singer thought the lady's also deeply in love with him and she'd leave the guy and be with the singer.
"I'm a thief who's just been caught and I don't find it funny anymore"
"And so I won't play the part, In your mistake, no way. Not unless you stay"
But this lady, finally after being caught cheating, she didn't leave the guy nor she chose the singer. So, the singer decided to leave, unless the lady chose him over the guy.
Hahahha this is too long but it's the first interpretation that I can think of the first time I heard this song