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.
Well I've got my car, we could go and sit a while
I know it won't turn over, but we'll get somewhere just the same
I'm through talking (the strangest thing but I feel safe when I'm lonely)
Don't take too much, cause you'll get burned if it's all at one time
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you’re standing still
Taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
No your problems, they aren't problems
So be glad they never will
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
Take it easy, don't you get it? It's just an expression
Would you raise your voice, every time a little dirt gets under?
Cry if you want (the return of no sensitivity)
You don't have to scream, to say something that you honestly mean
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you're standing still
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
And no your problems, they aren't problems
So be glad they never will
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you, from you, you
When you hear those footsteps calling
Isn’t it obvious?
Isn’t it obvious?
It’s O.K. if you don't answer
I thought it was obvious
I thought it was obvious
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you're standing still
Taking my kisses back from you
I want my kisses back from you
Your problems, they aren't problems
So thank god they never will
Taking my kisses back from you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
I know it won't turn over, but we'll get somewhere just the same
I'm through talking (the strangest thing but I feel safe when I'm lonely)
Don't take too much, cause you'll get burned if it's all at one time
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you’re standing still
Taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
No your problems, they aren't problems
So be glad they never will
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
Take it easy, don't you get it? It's just an expression
Would you raise your voice, every time a little dirt gets under?
Cry if you want (the return of no sensitivity)
You don't have to scream, to say something that you honestly mean
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you're standing still
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you
And no your problems, they aren't problems
So be glad they never will
I’m taking my kisses back (whoa)
I want my kisses back from you, from you, you
When you hear those footsteps calling
Isn’t it obvious?
Isn’t it obvious?
It’s O.K. if you don't answer
I thought it was obvious
I thought it was obvious
The world don’t spin without you
I’m amazed you're standing still
Taking my kisses back from you
I want my kisses back from you
Your problems, they aren't problems
So thank god they never will
Taking my kisses back from you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
I want my kisses back from you, you, you
Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
"you don't have to scream to say something that you honestly mean"
i love that line...it always sticks out when i listen to this...could be my fav JEW song ever...its pretty amazing...id say its about a person regretting their relationship with a person for certain reasons, but he still loves her but knows its not right to be with her
best song ever! i love it
oh this is such a great song. it's about completely regretting a relationship, hence the taking the kisses back. the person on the other end of this relationship was obviously very self centred and over reacted to every minutely bad thing that happened to her.
does anyone know when they recorded this song and what it is from? its not on any of the cds...
It was recorded on a split 7" series, Jimmy Eat World+Jebediah. Great series, also includes Cautioners and The Most Beautiful Things.
I really agree, but in a way, I also feel that it also means he regrets LOSING the girl, as well...remember when we were kids joking around and would "take back a high-five", we'd be basically giving another high five in the process, so when you "take my kisses back", then I'd really be kissing you, again at the same time, if that makes any sense to anyone out there...I believe it's in a state of confusion as well...oh well, it was worth a shot to me!!!! hehehe...also, xpankfrisst, I believe this was from a compilation w/JEW and Jebediah, but I could be wrong....I don't have the actually cd, either, it's just what I heard....God bless...
John DeNosky (guitar/vocals for The Haz Matz) hazmatz.tripod.com
i just love "taking my kisses back"... great line
xpankfrisst - actually it was on the middle EP, their Live in London disc (which i'd kill to get ahold of) and the Jebediah split EP jmdeno mentioned
Good Tune
the world. (tehehe) no. 4real. my "bud" matty told me to dl this song. it made me fall in love w/ j.e.w. ...AND him... lol... im such a sucka.. but this ones for u matty..love ya boy;-)
It's the word don't SPIN without you! grrr i hate it when lyrics are posted incorrectly. and the order is wrong too! if you don't know the lyrics DO NOT post them
This guy I met at a christian convention knows the Jimmy personally and he and Jimmy worte this song together that might be why it isn't on any of the records he is from the band CIRCLE 7 from Tocoa Falls in Georgia... They are awesome too.