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.
stand in front of the mirror
hold your shoulders back
powder your face lily white
the old fashioned way
photograph of your father
watches proudly from the metal box
step right up to his big shoes
ahhh
oooh
ahhh
this is what it takes to
make them laugh
use your whole whole body
just to make them laugh
and you lost your shadow
but you can make them laugh
and you want to crumble
but you make them
laugh
ooooh oooh
ahh ahhh
ahhh ahhh
and your mother
flew above the crowd
with her sequins on
your father caught her falling
with his red nose on it was circus love
they left the show to raise you
but it’s all you want
and it’s all you know
paper flowers blooming head to toe
aahhhh
oooh ahhhhhh
this is what it takes
just to make them laugh
and you study hard
in the dry summer grass
you are quiet and tall
and you see your life
through a laser light
and they start to laugh
and your heart fills in
and you see what he’s been
you move your body
just to make them laugh
this is what it takes
just to make them laugh
just to make them laugh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhh
ahhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhh
ahhh ahhhh
hold your shoulders back
powder your face lily white
the old fashioned way
photograph of your father
watches proudly from the metal box
step right up to his big shoes
ahhh
oooh
ahhh
this is what it takes to
make them laugh
use your whole whole body
just to make them laugh
and you lost your shadow
but you can make them laugh
and you want to crumble
but you make them
laugh
ooooh oooh
ahh ahhh
ahhh ahhh
and your mother
flew above the crowd
with her sequins on
your father caught her falling
with his red nose on it was circus love
they left the show to raise you
but it’s all you want
and it’s all you know
paper flowers blooming head to toe
aahhhh
oooh ahhhhhh
this is what it takes
just to make them laugh
and you study hard
in the dry summer grass
you are quiet and tall
and you see your life
through a laser light
and they start to laugh
and your heart fills in
and you see what he’s been
you move your body
just to make them laugh
this is what it takes
just to make them laugh
just to make them laugh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhh
ahhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
ahhhh ahhh
ahhh ahhhh
Lyrics submitted by sendthestars
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.