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.
First write down all of your fears
Then sweep the feathers you've preened
Next you should dominate
All the quests everyone said were too hard
And last you go back to sleep
Don't back out
Or we'll back down
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
You've smashed to smithereens
We've filled out all of the forms
Translated all of our dreams
Free love and perfected every inch
Weeknights down at the gym
Took every thing that we pleased
Don't crack up
Don't lose touch
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
You'll pray to pieces
I'll break and create life
Oh praise player one
Infinite lives, the time will come up
Did we build Babel together
Jibber jabber, changing colors
Aliens talking to airplanes
Every time the place is the same
Hope we can do this forever
Don't black out
Or we'll back down
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
I'm burnt to little bits
I'm psycho
Can you know this?
I have to go
I want to say I'm in love with you
And I'm more than the skin of my teeth
I digress
I am a mess, I'm in love with you
I will go without water or sleep
I'm a ghost
I can't say I know that I'm even here
Or is this some eternal test
Hold me close
I'll never know if it's more or less
No reset
Then sweep the feathers you've preened
Next you should dominate
All the quests everyone said were too hard
And last you go back to sleep
Don't back out
Or we'll back down
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
You've smashed to smithereens
We've filled out all of the forms
Translated all of our dreams
Free love and perfected every inch
Weeknights down at the gym
Took every thing that we pleased
Don't crack up
Don't lose touch
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
You'll pray to pieces
I'll break and create life
Oh praise player one
Infinite lives, the time will come up
Did we build Babel together
Jibber jabber, changing colors
Aliens talking to airplanes
Every time the place is the same
Hope we can do this forever
Don't black out
Or we'll back down
I want you to know
If you feel ready to go
I can read the rest to myself
Hell is digital
I'm burnt to little bits
I'm psycho
Can you know this?
I have to go
I want to say I'm in love with you
And I'm more than the skin of my teeth
I digress
I am a mess, I'm in love with you
I will go without water or sleep
I'm a ghost
I can't say I know that I'm even here
Or is this some eternal test
Hold me close
I'll never know if it's more or less
No reset
Lyrics submitted by uNo2BLACK, edited by foundthevelvetsun7
Out of Mana Lyrics as written by Vincent Accardi Jesse Thomas Lacey
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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Out of Mana means out of "power," often in a supernatural sense. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana
I think this song is what this whole album is about. Its about gaining control of your life. And the warning, the instruction, the inspiration, not to lose control once you have it.
Verse 1: Get control of your life. Acknowledge and confront your fears and flaws. Do things in your life that people say you can't. But don't go to "sleep," be awake, be aware, be YOU.
Chorus: Don't run out of power, And I can take care of myself, I don't need you (music, fame?). I have control, I can take it from here.
Verse 2: I'm not sure, but I think Lacey is saying, we did what you wanted, we translated our dreams and ambitions and thoughts into song for you, perfected them. Free love, reaping the benefits (i.e. girls on tour)? Weeknights at the gym though? not sure.
Chorus 2: A good bit is the same but an equally good portion is inaudible or thus far not properly posted above.
Anyway just my preliminary thoughts and by no means definitive. Good song, top 3 on the album.
The end of this song is what my soul was looking for. The struggling with not feeling good enough and wanting to give someone your all and still feeling that it’s not enough. I love brand new’s ability to put emotion like that into words so eloquently.
Out of Mana means out of "power," often in a supernatural sense. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana
I think this song is what this whole album is about. Its about gaining control of your life. And the warning, the instruction, the inspiration, not to lose control once you have it.
Verse 1: Get control of your life. Acknowledge and confront your fears and flaws. Do things in your life that people say you can't. But don't go to "sleep," be awake, be aware, be YOU.
Chorus: Don't run out of power, And I can take care of myself, I don't need you (music, fame?). I have control, I can take it from here.
Verse 2: I'm not sure, but I think Lacey is saying, we did what you wanted, we translated our dreams and ambitions and thoughts into song for you, perfected them. Free love, reaping the benefits (i.e. girls on tour)? Weeknights at the gym though? not sure.
Chorus 2: A good bit is the same but an equally good portion is inaudible or thus far not properly posted above.
Anyway just my preliminary thoughts and by no means definitive. Good song, top 3 on the album.
The overall composition of the song tied in with the lyrics has made me start to view this as sort of a digital versus analog commentary. Or better put, virtual versus visceral. The first portion of the song is heavy in digital effects, even on the vocals. The lyrical themes center around video games, infinite lives, and the cultivation of perfect bodies (a perfect shell, lacking inner development). There is plenty of academic research showing that while the digital world has people talking more than ever, we are all feeling increasingly isolated. We "built Babel together" because everyone is speaking, but no one is understanding each other. "Hell is digital" because it is hallow, empty. If you have infinite lives, it doesn't matter what you do. No experience carries any meaning. No failure is crushing. No success is sweet. You can do it all again tomorrow anyway.
This is contrasted by the rough, lo-fi acoustic outro that is accompanied by visceral/body-focused lyrics (skin of my teeth, go without water or sleep). He's back in the real world but is feeling so disillusioned that he's not sure he's even here. Yet, he recognizes that this is real. What happens here is final. You've only got one chance. Death will come. "No reset."
To me it sounds like he's saying "all praise player 1, infinite lives in the time of karma"