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 want to be alone for a while
I want earth to breathe to me
I want the waves to grow loud
I want the sun to bleed down
See the waves go down
See the moon alone
See the world unshown
I raise my head and whisper
Rise and shine
Rise and shine my sister
I want to see the wounded moon
I want the sea to break through
I want it all to be gone tomorrow
So I've come too say goodbye...
I want earth to breathe to me
I want the waves to grow loud
I want the sun to bleed down
See the waves go down
See the moon alone
See the world unshown
I raise my head and whisper
Rise and shine
Rise and shine my sister
I want to see the wounded moon
I want the sea to break through
I want it all to be gone tomorrow
So I've come too say goodbye...
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I believe they have said in concert that this song is about a cowboy sleeping on the beach.
I miss this era of Cardigans..so full of warmth, jazzy-feel and natural acoustic sounds
The record label strategy to release Life replacing some songs with Emmerdale ones diminished the geniality of The Cardigans album. They threw some songs from Emmerdale and removed even the unique closing song just to maintain the status quo on US (the songs removed are more alternative than the rest of the album)!
I also wanted to comment on this particular song because it has two versions. In the one from Emmerdale Nina's voice is very raw, the way of singing and the music in overall is different. On the first time you hear it you may find it strange if you listened to the Life's recording first, but after the first time you'll only want to hear the Emmerdale version! -
About Life track listing and ordering, I strongly suggest everyone to listen to the original one, with no Rise
Probably way off target but I did wonder whether this might be a song about depression and even perhaps life coming to an end with the line "I want it all to be gone tomorrow".
Despite being sung in a jolly upbeat tempo, some of the lyrics come across as being quite dark "wounded moon" "sun bleed down" and "waves break through". Regardless I think it is a very poetic song with strong imagery.