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.
[Verse 1]
We used to talk all the time
The blindfolded bodies you stacked in the barn
And they told you not to look behind you
The elephants walk in a line
The Ringmaster takes off his hat to the Queen
And she opens her mouth as they file inside
(ahh-ah ahh-ah ahh-ah ahh)
[Verse 2]
You used to tell me the hurt
The way they would strap you in freezing white basements
And wire your heart 'til your hopefulness bursts
The Queen cannot fit through the arch
So she strips off your sisters and tells you to march
And you fall in line with your hands on your throat
The parade of paralysis starts
[Verse 3]
The Ringmaster heads into town for the day
And they were just little it staked them in place
They're free now to run and they're free to run home
But they lost the ideal of escape
[Chorus]
How they crowned you
Weighted and drowned you
How they made you numb
No bandage around you
I've found and unwound you
Now how to make you run
[Verse 4]
And the Queen she is falling apart
She clutches the bannister shaking in shock
At the ugliness of her own heart
The ugliness of her own heart
[Verse 5]
I had a dream that we talked
We went to the White Cliffs and went for a walk
And I counted the times that our true loves had died
And you took my hand and looked over the side
And we saw your body down there
Getting taken away by the tide
[Verse 6]
Now they're all gone but you've stayed
The door is unlatched but you're not afraid
There's a nice patch of straw and a comfortable cage
The door is unlatched but you're not afraid
There's a nice patch of straw and a comfortable cage
[Chorus]
How they crowned you
Weighted and drowned you
How they made you dumb
No bandage around you
I've found and unbound you
Now where to make you run
We used to talk all the time
The blindfolded bodies you stacked in the barn
And they told you not to look behind you
The elephants walk in a line
The Ringmaster takes off his hat to the Queen
And she opens her mouth as they file inside
(ahh-ah ahh-ah ahh-ah ahh)
[Verse 2]
You used to tell me the hurt
The way they would strap you in freezing white basements
And wire your heart 'til your hopefulness bursts
The Queen cannot fit through the arch
So she strips off your sisters and tells you to march
And you fall in line with your hands on your throat
The parade of paralysis starts
[Verse 3]
The Ringmaster heads into town for the day
And they were just little it staked them in place
They're free now to run and they're free to run home
But they lost the ideal of escape
[Chorus]
How they crowned you
Weighted and drowned you
How they made you numb
No bandage around you
I've found and unwound you
Now how to make you run
[Verse 4]
And the Queen she is falling apart
She clutches the bannister shaking in shock
At the ugliness of her own heart
The ugliness of her own heart
[Verse 5]
I had a dream that we talked
We went to the White Cliffs and went for a walk
And I counted the times that our true loves had died
And you took my hand and looked over the side
And we saw your body down there
Getting taken away by the tide
[Verse 6]
Now they're all gone but you've stayed
The door is unlatched but you're not afraid
There's a nice patch of straw and a comfortable cage
The door is unlatched but you're not afraid
There's a nice patch of straw and a comfortable cage
[Chorus]
How they crowned you
Weighted and drowned you
How they made you dumb
No bandage around you
I've found and unbound you
Now where to make you run
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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