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.
Ebony beauty, passed this shade
The looking glass, reflects
Then a voice, calls me back
This is just circumstance; it is not personal
Oh no, it never is
Then you ram your hand in your bag for a little friendly substance
By the time you're twenty five, they will say
You've gone and blown it
By the time you're thirty five, I must confide
You will have, blown them up
Right on queue, just act surprised, when they invite you to take you, curtain call
You climbed china's wall;
You, curtain call
I've done what I've done, and it has the ultimate consequence
Then a voice calls me back
This is not business, no it's more like, spiritual
It's not what it is
Then you ram your hand in your bag for a little protection
By the time you're twenty five, they will say
You've gone and blown it
By the time you're thirty five, I must confide
You will have, blown them up
Right on queue, just act surprised, when they invite you to take you, curtain call
You've climbed, china's wall
You, curtain call
The closed china's wall
Curtain call
Ebony beauty, passed this shade
The looking glass reflects
The looking glass, reflects
Then a voice, calls me back
This is just circumstance; it is not personal
Oh no, it never is
Then you ram your hand in your bag for a little friendly substance
By the time you're twenty five, they will say
You've gone and blown it
By the time you're thirty five, I must confide
You will have, blown them up
Right on queue, just act surprised, when they invite you to take you, curtain call
You climbed china's wall;
You, curtain call
I've done what I've done, and it has the ultimate consequence
Then a voice calls me back
This is not business, no it's more like, spiritual
It's not what it is
Then you ram your hand in your bag for a little protection
By the time you're twenty five, they will say
You've gone and blown it
By the time you're thirty five, I must confide
You will have, blown them up
Right on queue, just act surprised, when they invite you to take you, curtain call
You've climbed, china's wall
You, curtain call
The closed china's wall
Curtain call
Ebony beauty, passed this shade
The looking glass reflects
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
Curtain Call Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"ebony beauty, pass this shade" -- commentary on how black women are not seen as beautiful culturally. when you see beauty magazines for women you often see black women who're trying to lighten themselves, lightening their hair, using make-up for a lighter tone, etc. the stereotype of a 'beautiful woman' in America is a white blonde.
However, and I like all of the previous comments here, but couldn't the song also be about career, and about job loss/layoffs? "you have climbed China's wall" -- double meaning referring to the themes from her old song -- but also saying hey, look at all you've achieved, you've done so much, and now you've gotten older and what do you have to show for it, what are you being recognized for, nothing, you've been fired, you're being shown the door, time to bow out, time for your curtain call. "this is just circumstance -- this is not personal" -- do you know how many bosses have told their employees that? Far too many. "right on cue just act surprised" -- you know it's coming, you know your career is about to end, but you have to act like you have no idea, you have to put a happy face on your miserable corporate life.
I'm not exactly saying she intended this, but I think this is a beautiful and brilliant song, with double and triple meanings there for the taking in the complex yet accessible lyrics. "the looking glass reflects" -- I have to think about the relation of this song to "Ruby Through The Looking-Glass" -- but emphasizing that line "reflects" can mean both that you're looking at what your life has amounted to after being stepped on by 'The Man' and that it will come back to haunt him... almost a warning, the looking glass reflects... you get away with how you've treated people, but someone knows, and it will eventually reflect back onto you.
Brilliant song.