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.
Strange zoo, strange blaze
Douse my head in flames
Coming through got to get some
Happiness is a bad son
Forceps, kitchen tools
Deconstruct your every move
Feels better when you're here
Guillotine just got here
Back bend, back break
Please yourself to make it rate
Live it all at your own cost
So many just got lost
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Instinct, bare boned
Light it up, take it home
You will be all things
You'll get what you bring
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my civility
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing water cans
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
With our own tongue
With our own tongues
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
And I'll set you free
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Douse my head in flames
Coming through got to get some
Happiness is a bad son
Forceps, kitchen tools
Deconstruct your every move
Feels better when you're here
Guillotine just got here
Back bend, back break
Please yourself to make it rate
Live it all at your own cost
So many just got lost
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Instinct, bare boned
Light it up, take it home
You will be all things
You'll get what you bring
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Leaning to fire
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my civility
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing water cans
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
With our own tongue
With our own tongues
Here's tomorrow man
Best of my ability
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
And I'll set you free
Chasing what I can
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Here's tomorrow man
Lyrics submitted by Moondragon
A Tendency to Start Fires Lyrics as written by Gavin Rossdale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Great version of a great song,
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I don't know, I like bloodshine's analysis, it could be doable, but I get the feeling this is a song about drugs, heroin in particular. A lot of Bush's stuff is about addictions("Swallowed", "Comedown") There's a good amount of references if you read into it. Kitchen tools: spoons are used extensively in using certain illegal drugs. "Live it all at your own cost, so many just got lost" This might be a reference to how many famous people at that time frame (late 90's) O'D on heroin. The fire theme may be a metaphor, or a literal feeling of being on drugs, or even commenting in a pun sort of way on burning bridges, burning relationships, etc. Re-read it with that in mind and see if I'm not the only one who thinks it fits perfectly.