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.
Bouncin' across the lake of ten years
Like a stone tossed from the burglar's hand
Holdin' my breath, then I'm sinkin'
Waves in circle like a memory slowly fade away, slowly fade
Remember me, when you look across the lake
When a fish caught hard on the line
Fights for his own life
When a boat breaks free of the tether and floats away in the wind
The throw was aimed at a distant pine
Winnin' the war by landin' down on the other side
So, another playin' boy might find it there
Skip it back not knowin' his part
In this messed up game, in this messed up game
Juggled in the hands of ten long years
Like colorful wands of fire in the arms of a red-eyed wino
Life held tight in purple lips and tongue
That mumble and spit out curses
And the young boy's line was 'I'll show you'
And the twenties was 'Watch me burn this fire'
And the thirties was 'Jesus, God, where did I go wrong?'
The forties was 'Good Lord, how much more?'
I'm halfway into the end of the chapter
And no ink left in the well
And no happy ending to tell, though
Bandages cover my body
Have no desire to swing the bell
No, I got no desire now to swing the bell
No, I got no desire now to swing the bell
No, I got no, no, no desire to swing the bell
To swing the bell
To swing the bell
To swing the bell, bell, bell
Desire, no desire
No desire to swing
Like a stone tossed from the burglar's hand
Holdin' my breath, then I'm sinkin'
Waves in circle like a memory slowly fade away, slowly fade
Remember me, when you look across the lake
When a fish caught hard on the line
Fights for his own life
When a boat breaks free of the tether and floats away in the wind
The throw was aimed at a distant pine
Winnin' the war by landin' down on the other side
So, another playin' boy might find it there
Skip it back not knowin' his part
In this messed up game, in this messed up game
Juggled in the hands of ten long years
Like colorful wands of fire in the arms of a red-eyed wino
Life held tight in purple lips and tongue
That mumble and spit out curses
And the young boy's line was 'I'll show you'
And the twenties was 'Watch me burn this fire'
And the thirties was 'Jesus, God, where did I go wrong?'
The forties was 'Good Lord, how much more?'
I'm halfway into the end of the chapter
And no ink left in the well
And no happy ending to tell, though
Bandages cover my body
Have no desire to swing the bell
No, I got no desire now to swing the bell
No, I got no desire now to swing the bell
No, I got no, no, no desire to swing the bell
To swing the bell
To swing the bell
To swing the bell, bell, bell
Desire, no desire
No desire to swing
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Flash Cards Lyrics as written by Kelly Joe Phelps
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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