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.
From small pins to fiery burns
These are the signals of my dying nerves
Singed by the heat of your lines and curves
Into a fire that could scorch the earth
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
From small shocks to surgin' bolts
These are the signals from my spinal post
Sent down the wires through their lines and folds
Into a riot on my frontal lobe
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
These are the signals of my dying nerves
Singed by the heat of your lines and curves
Into a fire that could scorch the earth
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
From small shocks to surgin' bolts
These are the signals from my spinal post
Sent down the wires through their lines and folds
Into a riot on my frontal lobe
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
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From small shocks to surgin' bolts These are the signals of my spinal pulse Sent down the wires through their lines and folds Into a light on my frontal lobe
This should be
From small shocks to surgin' bolts These are the signals from my spinal POST Sent down the wires through their lines and folds Into a RIOT on my frontal lobe