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 ascending rooftops
Looking out across this town
When I finally realize
I am finally home now
We waste the day away
Just driving in her car
Man, It’s only been a year
Why does it always seem so far
We waste, we waste the day away,
Listening to the words of Chris Conley
Oh, the places that you’ll go
You can always cover up
And they will never know
All the things you left behind
A feather in your hat or a bruised black eye
Took me a year
Till I could finally understand
Buildings don’t make a city great
It’s the people that you love
(the moments that you make)
I listen to my heartbeat
Do you hear what it says?
“Kid you’ve got a lot to learn,
Don’t give up on me yet.”
We sail, we sail, we sail our ships
With our loose lips
Till we drown and till we sink
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
Write me back when you get this
When you find out who you are
Man we’re going nowhere
How did we ever get so far?
And for every bridge we learn
Every lesson that we’ve learned
We are finding out it’s our turn
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
(You’ll move mountains kid)
Looking out across this town
When I finally realize
I am finally home now
We waste the day away
Just driving in her car
Man, It’s only been a year
Why does it always seem so far
We waste, we waste the day away,
Listening to the words of Chris Conley
Oh, the places that you’ll go
You can always cover up
And they will never know
All the things you left behind
A feather in your hat or a bruised black eye
Took me a year
Till I could finally understand
Buildings don’t make a city great
It’s the people that you love
(the moments that you make)
I listen to my heartbeat
Do you hear what it says?
“Kid you’ve got a lot to learn,
Don’t give up on me yet.”
We sail, we sail, we sail our ships
With our loose lips
Till we drown and till we sink
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
Write me back when you get this
When you find out who you are
Man we’re going nowhere
How did we ever get so far?
And for every bridge we learn
Every lesson that we’ve learned
We are finding out it’s our turn
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
(You’ll move mountains kid)
Lyrics submitted by dondraper
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.