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.
For those days we felt like a mistake
Those times when loves what you hate
Somehow
We keep marching on
For those nights that I couldn't be there,
I've made it harder to know that you know
That somehow
We'll keep movin' on
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For all of the plans we made
There isn't a flag I'd wave
Don't care where we've been
I'd sink us to swim
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For those doubts that swirl all around us
For those lives that tear at the seams
We know
We're not what we've seen
Oh for this dance we move with each other
There ain't no other step than one foot
Right in front of the other
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For all of the plans we made
There isn't a flag I'd wave
Don't care where we've been
I'd sink us to swim
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, marchin' on
We'll have the days we break
And we'll have the scars to prove it
We'll have the bombs that we saved
But we'll have the heart
Not to lose it
For all of the times we've stopped
For all of the things I'm not
You put one foot in front of the other
We've move like we ain't got no other
We go where we go we're marchin' on
Marchin' on
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on (marching oh)
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right
Marchin' on (we're marchin' on)
We're marchin' on
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right
Marchin' on (oh oh oh)
Those times when loves what you hate
Somehow
We keep marching on
For those nights that I couldn't be there,
I've made it harder to know that you know
That somehow
We'll keep movin' on
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For all of the plans we made
There isn't a flag I'd wave
Don't care where we've been
I'd sink us to swim
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For those doubts that swirl all around us
For those lives that tear at the seams
We know
We're not what we've seen
Oh for this dance we move with each other
There ain't no other step than one foot
Right in front of the other
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
For all of the plans we made
There isn't a flag I'd wave
Don't care where we've been
I'd sink us to swim
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, marchin' on
We'll have the days we break
And we'll have the scars to prove it
We'll have the bombs that we saved
But we'll have the heart
Not to lose it
For all of the times we've stopped
For all of the things I'm not
You put one foot in front of the other
We've move like we ain't got no other
We go where we go we're marchin' on
Marchin' on
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on
We're marchin' on (marching oh)
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right
Marchin' on (we're marchin' on)
We're marchin' on
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right, left
Right, right, right, right
Marchin' on (oh oh oh)
Lyrics submitted by timelesstunes, edited by FruitCakes
Marchin' On Lyrics as written by James David Washington Ryan Tedder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I don't think this has to do with a relationship. I think it's just about living your life, everyone has a past and everyone has problems, but we just keep going.
thats what i thought of to, instead of a relationship. About people moving on through their problems and just to keep going.
easily the best song on the album. this song is about how he realized the relationship was working but kept fighting for it to work lik he was in the army,and he promises her he will never give up on this relationship
Not all One Republic songs have to do with love, I don't think this one has any romance to it. It's simply about life, having ups and downs, facing obstacles and overcoming them.
The "There isn't a flag I'd wave" part, I think he is saying he is never taking a side, although it's hard to connect with the meaning.
"Right, right, right; right, left, right": At first I thought was just for the rhythm, but I think it's about how things don't always go smoothly as they should(right, left, right, left) but sometimes the road gets bumpy and we take time to straighten out problems, so we don't move on to the "left" for some time.
The "I'd sink us to swim" part I still don't understand. Can someone clarify?
It could be about life but the beginning it sounds like he is referring to one person, saying that their relationship wasn't wrong.<br /> <br /> For those days we felt like a mistake, <br /> Those times when love's what you hate <br /> Somehow <br /> We keep marchin on <br /> <br /> For those nights that i couldn't be there, <br /> I've made it harder to know that you know <br /> That somehow <br /> We'll keep movin on<br /> <br /> I also think that this part of the song is when he is saying that they have seen relationships not work. They've seen relationships go through the same thing that they are going through maybe, but they're not the same as the rest and they'll get through it.<br /> <br /> For those doubts that swirl all around us <br /> For those lives that tear at the seams <br /> We know <br /> Were not what we've seen
It could be about life but the beginning it sounds like he is referring to one person, saying that their relationship wasn't wrong.<br /> <br /> For those days we felt like a mistake, <br /> Those times when love's what you hate <br /> Somehow <br /> We keep marchin on <br /> <br /> For those nights that i couldn't be there, <br /> I've made it harder to know that you know <br /> That somehow <br /> We'll keep movin on<br /> <br /> I also think that this part of the song is when he is saying that they have seen relationships not work. They've seen relationships go through the same thing that they are going through maybe, but they're not the same as the rest and they'll get through it.<br /> <br /> For those doubts that swirl all around us <br /> For those lives that tear at the seams <br /> We know <br /> Were not what we've seen
I also think it isn't about relationship. It just about life. We will encounter many difficulties as long as alive. However, we still need to go on.
For the "I'd sink us to swim" part, I think it means that he would be willing to go through really difficult times (to "sink") as long as it meant later, they'd "swim" and be happy and things would be better.
I think the "I'd sink us to swim" means that you have to put yourself down to be able to go up sometimes.
i actually saw them in concert last night and Ryan said it's about when life throws something at you, just throw it right back...basically "marchin' on" and staying strong
"I'd sink us to swim"
I think this means that he would rather, for the sake of "marching on", force himself down to the bottom if that's what will let him move forward, instead of being stuck in the same place, "floating" if you will. I think it's a really amazing lyric, it's great when artists can say so many things with a couple words and convey emotions through simplicity.
I see this song as a song about moving on when things get tough, and not giving up. That's just the vibe I get when I listen to it :)
Despite everything said: I do believe this song is about the doubt you face in a relationship (romantic relationship or friendly)
That even though there is doubt that the relationship is not right, that despite that little voice in their head telling them its not right, that they truly know in their hearts that it is right. The first few lines, for me says it all. (For those days we felt like a mistake, Those times when love's what you hate, Somehow, We keep marchin' on)
I can connect to this song, because I surely feel not good enough on many occasions. And I have my fair share of doubt, but in the end I know that it's all in my head.
To meits about never giving up on a relationship .just moving on (or marching on)in this case. Fav line is "don't care where we've been I'd sink us to swim"
is it just me, or does this sound like it could be a Killers track? For some reason when I listen on my mp3 player that's all I can think of during the verses!
it's about life indeed, the 'Right Right Right Right Left' part is very interesting, but it should put pause to suit the timing of marching.. 'Right Right Right (pause 1sc)Right Left' lol