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.
Check it out:
I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring me down.
Pretty little thing came up behind me;
Twisted and twirled, she damn near blinded me.
Then she smiled as she took my crown.
I chased that pretty little thing all the way up the mountain
Just to see what I could see, what I could see, yeah!
I saw her standing by the flagpole; guess what she said to me...
"Chasing happy days, tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down."
Until you bring them down!
When I'd all but given up, my joy became a song.
Felt it in the desert air; I had it all along.
See, the fool's thirst, it led me up,
And I lead the devil down.
My silver-lining scepter called the wind to arms,
My feet don't touch the ground.
Blazing through the atmosphere
On my brand new tiger-robot-wizard-shark.
Truth be told, I love the view up here;
I shoulda seen it from the start.
You're chasing happy day; tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy until you bring 'em down. No, no, no!
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down.
You're chasing happy day; tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy until you bring 'em down. No, no, no!
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down.
Pretty little thing, platinum sheen,
I'm coming up strong; ain't fazed by the gleam.
Dancing around the sun. Hard to believe I was
Swimming in my mind, lost in the sea.
Quick fix schemes had a hold on me.
Now I just smile because everything always was
Just the way that it should have been.
Oh, them happy days are here!
Yeah, feeling good, feeling fine, 'scuse me while it blows my mind!
The future is fire (Future is fire)
My soul is a lady (My soul)
She's coming on home, and I'm kissing the face of infinity.
She's sweet, and she's sour (Sweet and sour)
She said to me, baby, she said,
"Don't let happy days just pass you by."
Oh, the future is fire (Future is fire)
My soul is a lady (My soul)
She's coming on home, and I'm kissing the face of infinity.
Yeah, she's here to stay,
Whispering softly,
"Don't let happy days... No, don't let happy days just pass you by!"
Oh yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (No, don't let happy days just pass you by.)
Oh (No no no no no...) Yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Oh (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!) Yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Happy days, no, no, happy days now.)
Oh yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Uh!)
I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring me down.
Pretty little thing came up behind me;
Twisted and twirled, she damn near blinded me.
Then she smiled as she took my crown.
I chased that pretty little thing all the way up the mountain
Just to see what I could see, what I could see, yeah!
I saw her standing by the flagpole; guess what she said to me...
"Chasing happy days, tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down."
Until you bring them down!
When I'd all but given up, my joy became a song.
Felt it in the desert air; I had it all along.
See, the fool's thirst, it led me up,
And I lead the devil down.
My silver-lining scepter called the wind to arms,
My feet don't touch the ground.
Blazing through the atmosphere
On my brand new tiger-robot-wizard-shark.
Truth be told, I love the view up here;
I shoulda seen it from the start.
You're chasing happy day; tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy until you bring 'em down. No, no, no!
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down.
You're chasing happy day; tell me, are you closer now?
(Look down, heaven's below!)
Praising yesterday, dreaming of them better times.
(You put 'em up on a throne)
And I won't let anyone have mercy until you bring 'em down. No, no, no!
And I won't let anyone have mercy 'til you bring 'em down.
Pretty little thing, platinum sheen,
I'm coming up strong; ain't fazed by the gleam.
Dancing around the sun. Hard to believe I was
Swimming in my mind, lost in the sea.
Quick fix schemes had a hold on me.
Now I just smile because everything always was
Just the way that it should have been.
Oh, them happy days are here!
Yeah, feeling good, feeling fine, 'scuse me while it blows my mind!
The future is fire (Future is fire)
My soul is a lady (My soul)
She's coming on home, and I'm kissing the face of infinity.
She's sweet, and she's sour (Sweet and sour)
She said to me, baby, she said,
"Don't let happy days just pass you by."
Oh, the future is fire (Future is fire)
My soul is a lady (My soul)
She's coming on home, and I'm kissing the face of infinity.
Yeah, she's here to stay,
Whispering softly,
"Don't let happy days... No, don't let happy days just pass you by!"
Oh yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (No, don't let happy days just pass you by.)
Oh (No no no no no...) Yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Oh (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!) Yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Happy days, no, no, happy days now.)
Oh yeah! Don't let happy days just pass you by! (Uh!)
Lyrics submitted by r3n3gad3
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