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.
Oh well, you sit alone and
Your brain begins to rot
And so you chase behind your
Every crazy thought
And find a human scapegoat
To blame your problems on
Paste on a plastic smile,
Pretending nothing's wrong
You go to work and sometimes
You scream and bitch and whine
You know that I'm so grateful
That none of your problems are mine
And so you find a punching bag
With a face that looks like me
And then you beat it senseless
Until it springs a leak.
Oh well, your life is empty
And so you buy some toys
And when something goes wrong
You get so fucking annoyed
The pages in your scrapbook,
They get all yellow and faded
And I'd be cynical if I
Wasn't so goddamned jaded
And so you make excuses
For writing poison pen notes
Just make sure in your mind
You're always above reproach
Look over the rim of your glasses
And then look down your nose
It's easy to feel superior,
I know ...
'cause nothing matters when you're indestructible
You better fail or else it's bound to fuck with you
Oh well, it's pointless to dwell on the past
But it's ever so easy just to think you've been had
I'm just a martyr/extra in this scene
So I hope you'll excuse me for being a libertine
I get so angry, so mean
Stab my voodoo doll
Stab my voodoo doll
'til it bursts, 'til it bursts
At the seams, at the seams
'cause nothing matters when you're indestructible
You better fail or else it's bound to fuck with you
I know you might think that you're infallible
But nothing matters when you're ...
Perfect
Your brain begins to rot
And so you chase behind your
Every crazy thought
And find a human scapegoat
To blame your problems on
Paste on a plastic smile,
Pretending nothing's wrong
You go to work and sometimes
You scream and bitch and whine
You know that I'm so grateful
That none of your problems are mine
And so you find a punching bag
With a face that looks like me
And then you beat it senseless
Until it springs a leak.
Oh well, your life is empty
And so you buy some toys
And when something goes wrong
You get so fucking annoyed
The pages in your scrapbook,
They get all yellow and faded
And I'd be cynical if I
Wasn't so goddamned jaded
And so you make excuses
For writing poison pen notes
Just make sure in your mind
You're always above reproach
Look over the rim of your glasses
And then look down your nose
It's easy to feel superior,
I know ...
'cause nothing matters when you're indestructible
You better fail or else it's bound to fuck with you
Oh well, it's pointless to dwell on the past
But it's ever so easy just to think you've been had
I'm just a martyr/extra in this scene
So I hope you'll excuse me for being a libertine
I get so angry, so mean
Stab my voodoo doll
Stab my voodoo doll
'til it bursts, 'til it bursts
At the seams, at the seams
'cause nothing matters when you're indestructible
You better fail or else it's bound to fuck with you
I know you might think that you're infallible
But nothing matters when you're ...
Perfect
Lyrics submitted by joelm
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.