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.
Her window was hung like a painting
She worried it might come to life
She stared for hours
So obsessed was I and self-absorbed that I
Didn't see that she was
Crying
There was always someone carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
There were times when I'd find myself saying that:
"Friends, you don't understand"
And she's different when it's just me and her, and I
Closed the door and I tried to hang on and she
Sank into the dark
I was over my head
There was always someone carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
We gave you everything
You could have been anything
We gave you everything
You could have done anything
But to imagine a fall
With no one at all to catch you
There'd always been someone
Then one night she climbed into the picture frame
Out in the frozen air
And out of sight
Woke up sad from this dream I've been having
The last couple nights or so
With her father and brothers we're all at the funeral
Carrying a box through the rain
Then somebody says that it's always been this way
Always someone's carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
She worried it might come to life
She stared for hours
So obsessed was I and self-absorbed that I
Didn't see that she was
Crying
There was always someone carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
There were times when I'd find myself saying that:
"Friends, you don't understand"
And she's different when it's just me and her, and I
Closed the door and I tried to hang on and she
Sank into the dark
I was over my head
There was always someone carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
We gave you everything
You could have been anything
We gave you everything
You could have done anything
But to imagine a fall
With no one at all to catch you
There'd always been someone
Then one night she climbed into the picture frame
Out in the frozen air
And out of sight
Woke up sad from this dream I've been having
The last couple nights or so
With her father and brothers we're all at the funeral
Carrying a box through the rain
Then somebody says that it's always been this way
Always someone's carrying
There was always someone carrying
Always someone's carrying Cathy
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I think most people probably agree that it's about suicide and have nothing to add. All I have to say is that I think it's a gorgeous song. One of my favourites.
I don't think anyone mentioned that Fold's lyrics are kind of reminiscent of Wuthering Heights and, obviously therefore, the Kate Bush song. The window imagery and the daunting depression work well to conjure up the novel and the other song.
The song also makes me thing of The Cowboy Junkie song, Horse in the Country, and the line: "...except for Kathy...who bought a one way ticket...and left us all behind."
you know, i know i'm wrong, but i always got the impression that Cathy was Kate (from, obviously, the Ben Folds Five song Kate.)
You know, like, when he was crushing over Kate, she didn't really know him that well, and he just adored her from a distance. Maybe he had only heard her name being said- never seen it written- and assumed that Cate, short for Cathy, short for Catherine, was Kate, short for Kathy, short for Katherine.
It always seemed reassured by the line "she's different when it's just me and her", like, he had been wanting her (or wanting to BE her) for so long, and when he eventually became friends with her, and showed his friends, they didn't get her like he did at all.
Also: "So obsessed was I and self-absorbed that I/ didn't see that she was/ crying". That line could also work with it; that because he's spent so like seeing Kate, and saying how "I wanna be Kate" (being self-obsessed), he didn't really notice what was really going on inside her.
Don't worry, I know its know what Folds was thinking-- but darn if it don't work for me as a tragic-sequal to a feel-good-hit!
I can't believe no one has written about this song. This song is so beautiful. Obviously, this song is about a girl named Cathy who committed suicide. I can really relate to the line "but to imagine a fall with no one at all to catch you".
i think the imagry in this song is great, 'her window hung like a painting 'et al and then 'she climbed into the picture frame'b v. sad but i can relate to it.
not to be picky- but this is a solo song by Ben Folds, not Ben Folds Five... still a good song
yes, i believe there's other songs posted on here that are ben folds, not ben folds five. songs from rockin' the suberbs. beautiful cd. go out and purchase it!
here's a good idea...more ppl try interpreting it cuz it's a good song
yeah this song is ben folds, not bff, great song
I think it's about mental illness.