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.
The generals are born again, born again, born again
The generals are born again, they're going to save the world
Their armament is seeing right, doing right, being right
The armour of righteousness is going to save the world
They're sending in the cavalry, cavalry, cavalry
The bugles and the banner-boys are waiting for the word
The captain is a blind man, blind man, blind man
A blind man is reaching for a terrible swift sword
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
They'll put a stop to history, history, history
Cut through theis confusion with the purity of steel
For time is just a can of worms, can of worms, can of worms
They'll blow away corruption when they break that seal
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
I'll never get to heaven, no matter what I do
I'll never be a blue-eyed boy although my eyes are blue
And I will not work, and I will not work, and I will not work for you
And I will not work, and I will not work, and I will not work for you
Born again!
I'll never get to heaven, no matter what I do
I'll never be a blue-eyed boy although my eyes are blue
A star is in the firmament, firmament, firmament
A new star in the firmament, Wormwood is its name
Everyone will see the light, see the light, see the light
And though my eyes are shut I'll have to see it just the same
For peace to last a thousand years, thousand years, thousand years
Prophecy has struck a match and held it to the fuse
They're wheeling up the cameras, cameras, cameras
They're timing Armageddon for the evening news
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again...to save the world
repeat until fade
The generals are born again, they're going to save the world
Their armament is seeing right, doing right, being right
The armour of righteousness is going to save the world
They're sending in the cavalry, cavalry, cavalry
The bugles and the banner-boys are waiting for the word
The captain is a blind man, blind man, blind man
A blind man is reaching for a terrible swift sword
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
They'll put a stop to history, history, history
Cut through theis confusion with the purity of steel
For time is just a can of worms, can of worms, can of worms
They'll blow away corruption when they break that seal
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
I'll never get to heaven, no matter what I do
I'll never be a blue-eyed boy although my eyes are blue
And I will not work, and I will not work, and I will not work for you
And I will not work, and I will not work, and I will not work for you
Born again!
I'll never get to heaven, no matter what I do
I'll never be a blue-eyed boy although my eyes are blue
A star is in the firmament, firmament, firmament
A new star in the firmament, Wormwood is its name
Everyone will see the light, see the light, see the light
And though my eyes are shut I'll have to see it just the same
For peace to last a thousand years, thousand years, thousand years
Prophecy has struck a match and held it to the fuse
They're wheeling up the cameras, cameras, cameras
They're timing Armageddon for the evening news
Born again: the generals are born again to save the world
Born again: the generals are born again...to save the world
repeat until fade
Lyrics submitted by ladyzelta
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.