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.
I'm being followed by my shadow
He's been creeping around
Asking where I've been
He keeps tapping on my shoulder
Telling me it's over
So where do I begin?
These dark days are getting harder
I feel I'm treading water
So will I sink or swim
Roll on, push a little further
I keep saying is this worth it
Or should I just give in
I don't know
I don't know which way I'm supposed to spin
In this circle
And I won't waste my time on your concern
'Til it's over
I look back on a distant border
I fear I'm getting older
There's so much that I missed
Walk on following a fate line
See if I can define
Where I came undone
I don't know which way I'm supposed to spin
In this circle
And I won't waste my time on your concern
'Til it's over
And I will wait my turn
My time will come
This ain't over
And I can't wait no more
No sweet return
This is over
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
This is over
He's been creeping around
Asking where I've been
He keeps tapping on my shoulder
Telling me it's over
So where do I begin?
These dark days are getting harder
I feel I'm treading water
So will I sink or swim
Roll on, push a little further
I keep saying is this worth it
Or should I just give in
I don't know
I don't know which way I'm supposed to spin
In this circle
And I won't waste my time on your concern
'Til it's over
I look back on a distant border
I fear I'm getting older
There's so much that I missed
Walk on following a fate line
See if I can define
Where I came undone
I don't know which way I'm supposed to spin
In this circle
And I won't waste my time on your concern
'Til it's over
And I will wait my turn
My time will come
This ain't over
And I can't wait no more
No sweet return
This is over
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
So it is
(No sweet return)
This is over
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Magical
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American Town
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I feel it is about how he wasted a part of his life that he can't get back. he filled his life with distractions so he wouldn't have to face his problems. 'he keeps tapping on my shoulder telling me it's over so where do I begin' he keeps telling himself to tell the the truth and seek help but he doesn't know how. 'roll on push a little further I keep saying is this worth it or should I just give in' more problems arise and he is wondering whether the difficulty in actually trying to fix his problems is worth it or if he should just give up. 'I don't know which way I'm supposed to spin in these circles' he is going in circles. every time a problem arises he tries to forget about it with distractions (of any sort) and then when there are no more distractions he will remember the problem and it is as bad as when it first arose if not worse. 'I look back on a distant border I fear I'm getting older there's so much that I missed' he is remembering when he was on the borderline of coping and not coping he sees how long ago it was and how long he has been not ok. 'see if I can define where I came undone' he is trying to remember when he actually was happy and actually ok. 'and I won't waste my time on your concern til it's over' he still thinks he can ignore his problems and let them pass so he won't waste his time talking about them until they are 'over' (which they probably never will until he actually deals with them). 'and I can't wait no more no sweet return this ain't over so it is' he then decides that his life isn't over and he won't just return to distractions and he will actually deal with his problems. the 'this is over' at the end is about his lies that he is fine he will stop lying to everyone and get better.
this song is awesome!