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.
Breathing life, as true as hones work
Breathing life, a truth for all it's worth
You want to seem to be as fragile as can be
I want to roll inside that shell you call a mind
Breathing life, as frail as insincere
Breathing life, too cold to shed a tear
You want to seem to be as fragile as can be
I want to see the things I'm supposed to see
I want to know the fear that sets inside of me
I want to breathe the air, like I was meant to
On ordinary days
Breathing life, a truth for all it's worth
You want to seem to be as fragile as can be
I want to roll inside that shell you call a mind
Breathing life, as frail as insincere
Breathing life, too cold to shed a tear
You want to seem to be as fragile as can be
I want to see the things I'm supposed to see
I want to know the fear that sets inside of me
I want to breathe the air, like I was meant to
On ordinary days
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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