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.
Who's the boy you like the most
Is it is teasing you he's underage
Could he be waving from a tropical sunset
Static silhouette somehow
Single in his bed someday
Quiet til he fall fall falls
Rome Rome Rome Rome
Focus looking forward the coliseum
Oh no what did I say
What can I say
Rome Rome many tears have fallen here
I'll be driving you look the other way
I am easy to ignore
Shutters open all the way
When the scandal that I see I'll go insane
Distant silhouettes somehow
We shared a cigarette somewhere
I looked to the fall fall falls
Rome Rome Rome Rome
Focus looking forward the coliseum
Oh no what did I say
What can I say
Rome Rome many tears have fallen here
I'll be driving you look the other way
Always and forever more
I called to say I'm on the way
1,000 years remain in the trashcan
I burned the cigarette somewhere
Ashes still it fall fall falls
I stand outside under broken leaves
I know I can't do without
The future's drowned away
Ah I never loved you
And if I loved you
I wouldn't say I'm sorry oh no
I stand outside under broken leaves
Always and forever more
And together getting lonely
I thought I couldn't do this without you
Single in his bed somewhere
Ashes still it fall fall falls
Is it is teasing you he's underage
Could he be waving from a tropical sunset
Static silhouette somehow
Single in his bed someday
Quiet til he fall fall falls
Rome Rome Rome Rome
Focus looking forward the coliseum
Oh no what did I say
What can I say
Rome Rome many tears have fallen here
I'll be driving you look the other way
I am easy to ignore
Shutters open all the way
When the scandal that I see I'll go insane
Distant silhouettes somehow
We shared a cigarette somewhere
I looked to the fall fall falls
Rome Rome Rome Rome
Focus looking forward the coliseum
Oh no what did I say
What can I say
Rome Rome many tears have fallen here
I'll be driving you look the other way
Always and forever more
I called to say I'm on the way
1,000 years remain in the trashcan
I burned the cigarette somewhere
Ashes still it fall fall falls
I stand outside under broken leaves
I know I can't do without
The future's drowned away
Ah I never loved you
And if I loved you
I wouldn't say I'm sorry oh no
I stand outside under broken leaves
Always and forever more
And together getting lonely
I thought I couldn't do this without you
Single in his bed somewhere
Ashes still it fall fall falls
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I love this song!
To me, it's about a longterm relationship that was troubled, but to top it off, the other partner cheats with a man that she's idolized(static silhouette of the other guy waving from a tropical sunset) and that the singer casually knows(the reference to sharing the cigarette somewhere). The singer finds out about them and is haunted by his brief encounter with the other man. When he sings about always calling to tell his partner that he's on the way, it's his way of making sure that the other man isn't there when he gets home and that he cannot ever trust her again(always and forevermore). They almost break-up and he tries to say that he never loved her, but it's not really true(I've never loved you and if I love you...). Somehow, they end up staying together, but the trust is gone and they are destroyed inside. He uses the Roman empire as a metaphor for their relationship as slowly decaying and breaking down for numerous factors(her cheating, his misspoken words, their lack of trust) as the actual Roman empire did over a long period of time. Their relationship is a facade of ashes and will crumble, much like the Colosseum still stands and is doomed to eventually crumble, but for now they are together.
It's interesting that another band, The Decemberists, would also use the Roman empire to describe the dissolution of a relationship in Record Year for Rainfall. Anyway, Rome is a wonderful and beautiful song!
Wow, I feel like you're right on. Thank you.