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.
And so there were no higher mountains
It's all in your hand
Valley was the future sea
And now sail's the plan
And in this travel with no journey
I lose 'til I'm light
Letting go of mind to have
What I'm keeping now
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
We're still towers in the valley
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
And there are many ways of sorrow
For just stepping out
Everyday a growling storm
But they're kind somehow
I fall in love but keep on falling
I held you for life
But letting go rope in hand
There's just leaving now
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
Still we're biking, laugh in memories
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
And when there's no one on the bottom
You got there alone
Kicking up some dust to see
Where a wind could blow
And all the ways to ride a lightning
I've used up a few
And I just want you to be safe
As I thunder through
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
We're still the towers in the valley
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
No this is not the end and no final tears
That we need to show
I thought that this would last for a million years
But now I need to go
Oh, fuck
It's all in your hand
Valley was the future sea
And now sail's the plan
And in this travel with no journey
I lose 'til I'm light
Letting go of mind to have
What I'm keeping now
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
We're still towers in the valley
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
And there are many ways of sorrow
For just stepping out
Everyday a growling storm
But they're kind somehow
I fall in love but keep on falling
I held you for life
But letting go rope in hand
There's just leaving now
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
Still we're biking, laugh in memories
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
And when there's no one on the bottom
You got there alone
Kicking up some dust to see
Where a wind could blow
And all the ways to ride a lightning
I've used up a few
And I just want you to be safe
As I thunder through
And suddenly the day gets you down
But this is not the end, no this is fine
We're still the towers in the valley
Still winds down this dream
Still we're in the light of day
With our ghosts within
No this is not the end and no final tears
That we need to show
I thought that this would last for a million years
But now I need to go
Oh, fuck
Lyrics submitted by SonVis, edited by DarkBirdIsHome
Dark Bird Is Home Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Some nice callbacks here. "there’s just leaving now" of course, in contrast to There's No Leaving Now, but perhaps, more importantly, this one, "So there were no higher mountains", contrasting Troubles Will Be Gone, which says:
But there's that sign up to a hill to see the far of the land Well the sign will say, "There's still a higher one"
If the message of TWBG is something like 'you'll always have more mountains to conquer', here Mattson seems to have resorted to the conclusion that perhaps that greatest peak came and went. Kinda grim, but the whole song is hopeful in a sort of grim way.
@infinityontrial Good observation with the connection to his earlier work.<br /> <br /> I heard from a live performance that this song is about his divorce. As someone who is going through a painful breakup right now this song nails it on the head.<br /> <br /> Trying to make peace with something that was once beautiful that is now gone and to accept that life goes on. "This is not the end, no this is fine".<br /> <br /> I interpret the verses differently every-time. Are they metaphors for his ex wife? Are they about him? is it just about travel and journeying? I love this, I can imagine something different every-time. <br /> <br /> The ending is just perfect. At the end of all the string and questioning, at the final stage of a breakup you just have to stay, "I thought that this would last for a million years but now I need to go.. oh f**k".<br /> <br /> Says it all.