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.
What you give
Or give out
Is the only thing
That really counts
Will you stay?
Here, stay around
And we'll both start
Working this out
But it's not just this
It's everything
You're so hard to reach
And impossible to really read
When your talking with
Two tongues in your mouth
And I wish you'd quit this muttering
Beneath your breath
It's killing me
You've not said nothing yet
Who's talking now?
Well I guess I'm starting to doubt
Are we lost here?
Are you keeping count?
Are you gonna just let me down?
Well your hearts not in it
It's everywhere
It's plain to see
You're still wondering
What's underneath
You're so curious
It's two strikes and you're out
And I'm tiring of this attitude
How you fall to pieces
Like you do
I can't believe you're still talking
With two tongues in your mouth
After all we've been around
Will you hear me out?
You're the only thing
That really counts
Or give out
Is the only thing
That really counts
Will you stay?
Here, stay around
And we'll both start
Working this out
But it's not just this
It's everything
You're so hard to reach
And impossible to really read
When your talking with
Two tongues in your mouth
And I wish you'd quit this muttering
Beneath your breath
It's killing me
You've not said nothing yet
Who's talking now?
Well I guess I'm starting to doubt
Are we lost here?
Are you keeping count?
Are you gonna just let me down?
Well your hearts not in it
It's everywhere
It's plain to see
You're still wondering
What's underneath
You're so curious
It's two strikes and you're out
And I'm tiring of this attitude
How you fall to pieces
Like you do
I can't believe you're still talking
With two tongues in your mouth
After all we've been around
Will you hear me out?
You're the only thing
That really counts
Lyrics submitted by areyouwatchingclosely
Two Tongues Lyrics as written by Glen James Hansard Glen Hansard
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I have much sympathy for both parties. It is so difficult to be rejected by the one you love. But it can be even harder to be the rejectee. Having to let someone you care about so deeply is a very difficult thing to do. From experience, I know that to be so.
I personally think that the overall theme of this song is miscommunication. Someone is being a bit two-faced, and says one thing one day but then the next says something and the other person has no idea what the relationship is about and so what they're saying is your actions are what is going to show me where your heart really is. And because of this lying or whatever it is, this double-conveyance, this person says they're "heart's not in it". This person is in love with the other but the other is not telling them properly, what their feelings are:
And impossible to really read When your talking with Two tongues in your mouth And I wish you'd quit this muttering Beneath your breath It's killing me You've not said nothing yet
Then the other starts to become involved in the relationship and wants to dig deeper but they're still sending mixed messages. Oh there's a lot to say but I think I've covered most.
This is my favourite song on the Swell Season record and I can't find a single instance of them performing it live, which makes me think it must be pretty personal, which would make sense from the lyric.