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.
Nightmare
Now your nightmare comes to life
Dragged you down below, down to the devil's show
To be his guest forever (peace of mind is less than never)
Hate to twist your mind, but God ain't on your side
An old acquaintance severed (burn the world your last endeavor)
Flesh is burning, you can smell it in the air
'Cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal (steal)
So stand in line while they ink numbers in your head
You're now a slave until the end of time here
Nothing stops the madness turning
Haunting, yearning, pull the trigger
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
While your nightmare comes to life
Can't wake up in sweat, 'cause it ain't over yet
Still dancing with your demons (victim of your own creation)
Beyond the will to fight, where all that's wrong is right
Where hate don't need a reason (loathing self-assassination)
You've been lied to just to rape you of your sight
And now they have the nerve to tell you how to feel (feel)
So sedated as they medicate your brain
And while you slowly go insane they tell you
"Given with the best intentions, help you with your complications"
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
No one to call, everybody to fear
Your tragic fate is lookin' so clear, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
Ha, ha, ha, ha
Fight (fight), not to fail (fail), not to fall (fall)
Or you'll end up like the others
Die (die), die again (die), drenched in sin (sin)
With no respect for another
Oh
Down (down), feel the fire (fire), feel the hate (hate)
Your pain is what we desire
Lost (lost), hit the wall (wall), watch you crawl (crawl)
Such a replaceable liar
And I know you hear their voices (calling from above)
And I know they may seem real (these signals of love)
But our life's made up of choices (some without appeal)
They took for granted your soul
And it's ours now to steal
As your nightmare comes to life
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
No one to call, everybody to fear
Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
Now your nightmare comes to life
Dragged you down below, down to the devil's show
To be his guest forever (peace of mind is less than never)
Hate to twist your mind, but God ain't on your side
An old acquaintance severed (burn the world your last endeavor)
Flesh is burning, you can smell it in the air
'Cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal (steal)
So stand in line while they ink numbers in your head
You're now a slave until the end of time here
Nothing stops the madness turning
Haunting, yearning, pull the trigger
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
While your nightmare comes to life
Can't wake up in sweat, 'cause it ain't over yet
Still dancing with your demons (victim of your own creation)
Beyond the will to fight, where all that's wrong is right
Where hate don't need a reason (loathing self-assassination)
You've been lied to just to rape you of your sight
And now they have the nerve to tell you how to feel (feel)
So sedated as they medicate your brain
And while you slowly go insane they tell you
"Given with the best intentions, help you with your complications"
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
No one to call, everybody to fear
Your tragic fate is lookin' so clear, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
Ha, ha, ha, ha
Fight (fight), not to fail (fail), not to fall (fall)
Or you'll end up like the others
Die (die), die again (die), drenched in sin (sin)
With no respect for another
Oh
Down (down), feel the fire (fire), feel the hate (hate)
Your pain is what we desire
Lost (lost), hit the wall (wall), watch you crawl (crawl)
Such a replaceable liar
And I know you hear their voices (calling from above)
And I know they may seem real (these signals of love)
But our life's made up of choices (some without appeal)
They took for granted your soul
And it's ours now to steal
As your nightmare comes to life
You should've known the price of evil
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah
No one to call, everybody to fear
Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah
Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare
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More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Listening to the song and reading the lyrics. Its about the rev being mentally and physically addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Its like your mind has you trapped and your going crazy trying to find an escape but on some level you don't want to escape it.
Dragged you down below, Down to the devils show, To be his guest forever, (Peace of mind is less than never!) (This part shows the revs entrapment in alcohol and/or drugs. Because of his addiction he will be stuck in the devils playground forever. The last part means your always on the edge so close to death so you'll never have peace of mind.)
Hate to twist your mind, But god ain't on your side, An old acquaintance severed, (Burn the world your last endeavor) (This second verse means basically: I hate to mess with your head more but God isn't standing by you through this fight. You cut him off from helping you so he isn't going to any more your on your own.)
Flesh is burning, you can smell it in the air, cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal, So stand in line while they ink numbers in your head, you’re now a slave until the end of time here, Nothing stops the madness turning, haunting, yearning, pull the trigger! (With an addictive personality it makes you more susceptible to being take advantage of easily. So accept what you are and let the drugs control you because you are now a "slave to them." The only way to end your insanity is to kill yourself because your so far into your addiction you can't get out.)
You should of known, the price of evil, And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah It's your fucking nightmare! (While your nightmare comes to life) (His friends are saying you should have known what drugs and/or alcohol could do to you. Its your fault that your in the situation your in.)
Can’t wake up in sweat, Cause it ain’t over yet, Still dancing with your demons, (Victim of your own creation!) (You created your own destiny and fate.)
Beyond the will to fight, Where all that’s wrong is right, Where hate don’t need a reason, (Loathing self assassination!) (He's beyond help. All that's visioned is that what he is doing is right because drugs and/or alcohol change your perception of reality. He hates his only option is death.)
You’ve been lied to just to rape you of your sight and now they have the nerve to tell you how to feel, So sedated as they medicate your brain and while you slowly go insane they tell you, Given with the best intentions, help you with your complications! (This is a tough one.. you've been lied to just to blind you of reality and now the devil a.k.a the drugs and/or alcohol are telling you how to feel and act. So numbed by your obsession "they/you" give you/yourself more drugs and/or alcohol because thats what your "told" to do. The drugs and/or alcohol are there to make up for all the bad in your life. To help you through rough times.)
You should of known, the price of evil, And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah No one to call, everybody to fear, Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah It's your fucking nightmare! Hahahaha! (You can't ask for help because your afraid to. Death becoming more clear.)
Mwahahahahahaha..
Fight! (Fight) Not to fail, (Fail) Not to fall, (Fall) Or you’ll end up like the others! (His friends are telling him to fight not so he can fail or fail so he can get better and overcome this. They don't want him to end up like other people who die from overdose.)
Die! (Die) Die again, (Die) Drenched in sin, (Sin) With no respect for another! (He is covered in all the wrong he has done and no respect for himself or for the people that care from him. Because to him he doesn't understand that people are trying to help him.)
Down! (Down) Feel the fire, (Fire) Feel the hate, (Hate) Your pain is what we desire! (This is what the devil is saying.. he is stuck in hell and hell is a place where there is pain and suffering reason why it says "your pain is what we desire!")
Lost! (Lost) Hit the wall, (Wall) Watch you crawl, (Crawl) Such a replaceable liar! (The only thing that comes to mind is a sanitarium hitting your head off the wall shows impatiences with yourself and your decisions. the last part I can't grasp what it means)
And I know you hear their voices (Calling from above), And I know they may seem real (These signals of love), But our lives made up of choices (Some without appeal), They took for granted your soul and it’s ours now to steal! As your nightmare comes to life! (The drugs/and or alcohol are the voices like having an angel one shoulder and the devil on the other. One voice telling him to do the right things and another telling him to do wrong. You decide your own path. They took for granted that you are a good person at heart and now you are going to be tortured because you chose the wrong path.
You should of known, the price of evil, And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah No one to call, everybody to fear, Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah
IT'S YOUR FUCKING NIGHTMARE!
This is my interpretation of this song. I'm not telling people to follow it or that its accurate. Its my opinion of what the songs about.