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.
'Cause the world might do me in
It's all right cause I'm with friends
Cause I'm giving up again
It doesn't matter
And I'm feeling like a ghost
And it's what I hate the most
'Cause I'm giving up again
And this time (this time, this time)
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
Try and hear me then I'm done
'Cause I might just say this once
Seen this played out in my dream
It doesn't matter
Time for givin' up the ghost
Fuck, it's you I hate the most
And there is no guarantee
It doesn't matter
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
It's all right cause I'm with friends
Cause I'm giving up again
It doesn't matter
And I'm feeling like a ghost
And it's what I hate the most
'Cause I'm giving up again
And this time (this time, this time)
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
Try and hear me then I'm done
'Cause I might just say this once
Seen this played out in my dream
It doesn't matter
Time for givin' up the ghost
Fuck, it's you I hate the most
And there is no guarantee
It doesn't matter
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
This time I might just disappear
This time I might just dis
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Despite the song words being about ghosts and disappearing, I think it's really about a one-sided relationship, or maybe an unsuccessful attempt to start one.
'Cause the world might do me in It's all right cause I'm with friends Cause I'm giving up again It doesn't matter
He's worrying that this time nothing might come out of it, but he doesn't feel all bad about it, because he still has friends. This isn't also the first time he's unsuccesfully in love.
And I'm feeling like a ghost And it's what I hate the most 'Cause I'm giving up again And this time (this time, this time) This time I might just disappear
He feels ignored by the other person, as if he were a ghost, and he hates this feeling. That's why he's considering giving up on his feelings and disappearing from the person's life.
Try and hear me then I'm done 'Cause I might just say this once Seen this played out in my dream It doesn't matter
Before he goes however, he's trying one last time to form a relationship. He's nervous about it to the point of having dreams about approaching the person and saying what he feels.
Time for givin' up the ghost Fuck, it's you I hate the most And there is no guarantee It doesn't matter
This approach is the last time, he's giving up on being ignored like a ghost, which he hates, either he manages to form a relationship, or disappears from the person's life for good. He doesn't really know if he'll succeed and perhaps is apathetic about the outcome.