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.
You know I'm bad at communication
It's the hardest thing for me to do
And they say it's the most important part
Of the relationships I go through
And I give it all away
Just so I could say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
You know there's no rhyme or reason
For the way you turned out to be
I didn't go and try to change my mind
Not intentionally
I know it's hard to hear me say it
But I can't bear to stay
And I just know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
The way you use your imagination
Try to make it what you want it to be
Because I'm sorry I did what I did
But it came naturally
And I give it all away
Just so I could say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Well, I try to keep myself together
After all the opportunities
Try to stay true to you and try to do
What you wanted from me
And I give it all away just to hear you say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It's the hardest thing for me to do
And they say it's the most important part
Of the relationships I go through
And I give it all away
Just so I could say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
You know there's no rhyme or reason
For the way you turned out to be
I didn't go and try to change my mind
Not intentionally
I know it's hard to hear me say it
But I can't bear to stay
And I just know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
The way you use your imagination
Try to make it what you want it to be
Because I'm sorry I did what I did
But it came naturally
And I give it all away
Just so I could say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Well, I try to keep myself together
After all the opportunities
Try to stay true to you and try to do
What you wanted from me
And I give it all away just to hear you say that
Well, I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're gonna be okay anyway
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
Always keep your heart locked tight
Don't let your mind retire
Oh, but I just couldn't take it
I tried hard not to fake it
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
It felt right
It felt right
But I fumbled it when it came down to the wire
Lyrics submitted by marinabellini, edited by khalylsi, Mellow_Harsher, nathan123, OldSchool1
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think this song might be about having a long distance relationship, cheating on the boyfriend, possibly falling in love with a different guy, and then trying to break up with the boyfriend.
She tries to break it to him easy... "You know there's no rhyme or reason For the way you (our relationship) turned out to be I didn't go and try to change my mind (about being in love with you) Not intentionally
She repeats what her boyfriend told her, "Always keep your heart locked tight. Don't let your mind retire" (Keep your heart for me. Don't let your mind be overwhelmed in a moment of temptation)
Then she says how she tried... "Well, I try to keep myself together After all the opportunities Try to stay true to you and try to do What you wanted from me"
And then goes on to explain how she's fallen in love with some one else... "Oh, but I just couldn't take it I tried hard not to fake it But I fumbled and when it came down to the wire...It felt right"
He's tried to ignore tell-tale signs that this has been going down so she drives her point home and tries to tell him he will be alright... "The way you use your imagination Try to make it what you want it to be Because I'm sorry I did what I did But it came naturally"
"I know it's hard to hear me say it But I can't bear to stay And I just know, I know, I know, I know That you're gonna be okay anyway"