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 see color bars when I come
Sergeant Rock broke the key off in the lock to where I come from
Sir, no sir, we have no power in the air
The battle's on the ground
Laying low again, high on the sound
Bruno S. is a man to me
You're just some dude with a stilted attitude
That you learned from TV
You'll undo, but I'll be connecting everything
The traffic in my town
Riding high again, high on the sound
Everyone wants me to ride into the sun
But I ain't gonna go down
Laying low again, high on the sound
Sergeant Rock broke the key off in the lock to where I come from
Sir, no sir, we have no power in the air
The battle's on the ground
Laying low again, high on the sound
Bruno S. is a man to me
You're just some dude with a stilted attitude
That you learned from TV
You'll undo, but I'll be connecting everything
The traffic in my town
Riding high again, high on the sound
Everyone wants me to ride into the sun
But I ain't gonna go down
Laying low again, high on the sound
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
Color Bars Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i like abirata's comment on the first line.
we're so unaccustomed to hearing this particular type of thing from Elliott (OK--so, he's nothing but frankness! I know, but--I mean the topic, and the words) that many weren't certain he meant what he seemed to mean by the word "come". Elliott enjoys wringing multiple meanings out of seemingly-simple words or phrases.
all the more evident in what follows. everything up through "...where I come from" is terrific wordplay. the internal rhyme (Rock and lock...so get out your rhyming dictionary, and think of the other possibilities for that duo). the multiple military references (not only on Figure 8). but there are great ones here, also including what's currently my favorite E.S. song...that being "I Better Be Quiet Now". which like this song takes the shortest possible path from the songwriter's head to yours, musicially speaking in particular. I worried I'd never get it out of my head, but why would I want to?
asdf's (sometimes left-field) analysis is worth time and effort to unravel.
was Elliott a cineaste? before I heard this song, I'd always associated color bars with the Criterion Collection: who put this powerful tool at your fingertips, indispensable if you learn how to use it. their attention to detail...rendering of detail beyond what we're accustomed to seeing on our televisions: it's why their (usually) high price is always good value