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’re the worst part of me
How did I let you in so deep?
You’re the worst part of me
How did I let you in so deep?
Gotta dig you out of my skin
This where it has to end
I let you bury me alive for far too long
But I’m climbing back up to the surface, back to where I belong
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You pulled me in with a warm embrace
To drag me down to the darkest place
I want to feel just like myself again
But with these chains around my ankles I can’t get away
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You had control of me for far too long
Manipulated me but now I’m gone
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
After these years, it’s finally crystal clear
I let you bury me alive for far too long
But I’m climbing back up to the surface back to where I belong
And now it’s clear that you’re the worst part of me
How did I ever let you claw your way in so deep
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You had control of me for far too long
Manipulated me but now I’m gone
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
How did I let you in so deep?
You’re the worst part of me
How did I let you in so deep?
Gotta dig you out of my skin
This where it has to end
I let you bury me alive for far too long
But I’m climbing back up to the surface, back to where I belong
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You pulled me in with a warm embrace
To drag me down to the darkest place
I want to feel just like myself again
But with these chains around my ankles I can’t get away
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You had control of me for far too long
Manipulated me but now I’m gone
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
After these years, it’s finally crystal clear
I let you bury me alive for far too long
But I’m climbing back up to the surface back to where I belong
And now it’s clear that you’re the worst part of me
How did I ever let you claw your way in so deep
If we’re being honest you broke every little promise
That you made to me, I was too blind to see
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
You had control of me for far too long
Manipulated me but now I’m gone
I was so defenseless now I’m coming to my senses
After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear
Lyrics submitted by AdamArtz
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My interpretation of this song is that this person realizes they lack self love and how they have let their self down many times. They are trying to rise above and find their true self. They talk about how they got to the low place that they are at, self hate, and how they have come to their senses and will pull themselves out of their misery.
I see how the lyrics can be interpreted to be directed at something that's within the narrator's personality, like the previous comment that's talking about a lack of self love.
To me, however, it tells the story of an abusive relationship that the narrator was finally able to break free from. Out of personal experience, my interpretation is that the narrator was subject to narcisstist behaviour and/or gaslighting.
They let their ex-partner "in so deep" into their perception and personality, which made them "so defenseless". The following lines describe typical behaviour for these kinds of situations: "You pulled me in with a warm embrace To drag me down to the darkest place" "If we’re being honest you broke every little promise That you made to me, I was too blind to see" "You had control of me for far too long Manipulated me but now I’m gone"
After being free from the abuser, working back through what happened: "After all these years, it’s finally crystal clear" - it's like a veil being lifted, realizing the behavioural patterns and how they altered the narrator's perception.
I belive it means whatever you need it to it relates to what ever has happend to make you feel this way the song is amazing