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.
I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me
Wrapped in white sheets,
Like an angel from a bedtime story
And shut out what they say,
'Cause your friends are fucked up anyway
And when they come around,
Somehow they feel up and you feel down.
When we were kids, we hated things our parents did
We listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
That's when friends were nice,
To think of them just makes you feel nice
The smell of grass in spring
And October leaves cover everything.
[Repeat: x2]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
I can't believe all the good things that you do for me
Sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
Nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice
And shut out what they say;
They're too dumb to mean it anyway
When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes
[Repeat: x6]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
Wrapped in white sheets,
Like an angel from a bedtime story
And shut out what they say,
'Cause your friends are fucked up anyway
And when they come around,
Somehow they feel up and you feel down.
When we were kids, we hated things our parents did
We listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
That's when friends were nice,
To think of them just makes you feel nice
The smell of grass in spring
And October leaves cover everything.
[Repeat: x2]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
I can't believe all the good things that you do for me
Sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
Nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice
And shut out what they say;
They're too dumb to mean it anyway
When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did
Backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
And the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments
And the open drapes
Look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes
[Repeat: x6]
Have you forgotten how to love yourself?
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
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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.
It's easy to twist the facts and become nostalgic as you grow old, but there's an undeniable simplicity that's inherent to youth. Probably because we're so uncomplicated then, and also because we're much easier on ourselves, which I think is part of the point the song is driving home. The lovely memories of childhood juxtapose perfectly with the idea of remembering how to not be too harsh on yourself. I guess we all can identify with growing up to become adults who take everything much too seriously, until all we're able to do is reach out for the time when things seemed fun and exciting. That's the reason this song resonates with so many people.
The beautiful delicate music makes the lyrics even more meaningful to me. I love the way Mark sings this lovely melody over a plain guitar for most of the song - almost like the type of ballad you learn to play with your friends when you're a teenager - only to be joined by a breathtaking steel guitar near the end. The song successfully awakens a nostalgic feeling, becoming nostalgic itself.
This is no ordinary song. This is the kind of music that enriches our existence, drawing from us moods we then become aware and grateful of. Few can evoke these sensations through their arts, and Mark Kozelek is definitely one of them.