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.
My God is better than yours
And the walls of my house are so thick
I hear nothing at all
I followed you out in the storm
But it carried you off
And I burned every picture of yours
Was that not enough?
My gun is bigger than yours
So let's arm the masses
And see what the bastards do then
Walking tall once set us apart
Now we're down on all fours
Do you cry my name in the dark
Like I do yours?
These storms are getting stronger now
Trusses all bend and sway
Lightning hits, the power goes out in the fray
As the waves crash high
And the shoreline disappears
I will scream to the sky
"Hey, people live here."
My dreams are not unlike yours
They long for the safety
And break like a glass chandelier
But there's laughter and oh there is love
Just past the edge of our fears
And there's chaos when push comes to shove
But it's music to my ears
May you be in Heaven before the Devil knows you're dead
May these winds be always at your back
'Cause when we're all just ghosts
And the madness overtakes us
We will look at the ashes
And say, People lived here
From the penthouse to the holy martyr
Sea to shining sea
From the coffins full of kindergartners
Is this what you call free?
From the hate that drips from all your crosses
Are your hands so clean?
And the wildfire and it's spreading far
From sea to shining sea
When we're all just ghosts
And the madness overtakes us
I will scream to the sky, yeah I'll scream to the sky
Yeah I'll scream to the sky
Hey, people live here
And the walls of my house are so thick
I hear nothing at all
I followed you out in the storm
But it carried you off
And I burned every picture of yours
Was that not enough?
My gun is bigger than yours
So let's arm the masses
And see what the bastards do then
Walking tall once set us apart
Now we're down on all fours
Do you cry my name in the dark
Like I do yours?
These storms are getting stronger now
Trusses all bend and sway
Lightning hits, the power goes out in the fray
As the waves crash high
And the shoreline disappears
I will scream to the sky
"Hey, people live here."
My dreams are not unlike yours
They long for the safety
And break like a glass chandelier
But there's laughter and oh there is love
Just past the edge of our fears
And there's chaos when push comes to shove
But it's music to my ears
May you be in Heaven before the Devil knows you're dead
May these winds be always at your back
'Cause when we're all just ghosts
And the madness overtakes us
We will look at the ashes
And say, People lived here
From the penthouse to the holy martyr
Sea to shining sea
From the coffins full of kindergartners
Is this what you call free?
From the hate that drips from all your crosses
Are your hands so clean?
And the wildfire and it's spreading far
From sea to shining sea
When we're all just ghosts
And the madness overtakes us
I will scream to the sky, yeah I'll scream to the sky
Yeah I'll scream to the sky
Hey, people live here
Lyrics submitted by internettoughguy56, edited by carlalsford
People Live Here Lyrics as written by Timothy Mcilrath
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Okay, here I go with my thoughts on this one.
I'm quite surprised that those interpretations already posted didn't say any word about all those "Gods" in here.
It's starting with the plain statement "My God is better than yours"
leading up to the question "From the hate that drips from all your crosses Are your hands so clean?"
Also, those storms appear to me as the image of a god-made epic catastrophy that's building up over time - first, some loved person seems to be dragged away, later "the shoreline disappears" and "trusses bend and sway", but the narrator will stay there and scream to the sky - to God?
Maybe those storms could also be religious conflicts? That would connect to the "hate that drips from all your crosses"...
I really "feel" a storyline about a conflict against God or between multiple Gods and their followers in this one but I can't quite grasp it... so those are just some ideas. Maybe someone else will find a way to connect all of that. Plus I have no idea who the person could be that is adressed in the lines
And I burned every picture of yours Was that not enough? ... Do you cry my name in the dark Like I do yours? ... May you be in Heaven before the Devil knows you're dead May these winds be always at your back
Clearly it has to be someone else than those other "you"s in other parts of the song.
Looking forward to other ideas!