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'm going to get so high
You'll never get inside
I swore I'd never turn into you
I'm closer all the time
I made it ten miles high
Can't tell my truth from my lies
I swore to god I would never turn into you
I'm getting closer... all the time
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all -
You'll never get inside
I swore I'd never turn into you
I'm closer all the time
I made it ten miles high
Can't tell my truth from my lies
I swore to god I would never turn into you
I'm getting closer... all the time
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all -
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I think this song is based off of becoming someone that you hate, but I don't think it's actually a literal person. I think he means someone you imagined as a bad person in a past. An idea. "I swore I'd never turn into you" meaning "I know that way isn't the right way, so I'm not going to travel down that road." And then over time, he realizes, he's somehow turned into this person. He's lost perception of what he actually is made of and what he's tried so hard to be and lied to himself that he is. (Can't tell my truth from my lies)
"I'm getting closer, all the time" basically meaning that he's starting to turn it around. He's starting to become higher than his lies.
His fears came true, and now they're spreading into things that are actually happening. "My nightmares are everywhere but inside, a living indication of every situation" "But it seems I've got neglected complications, hindered my salvation" He's completely neglected the voice screaming inside him telling him that he was going to fall. "But I try, and I try, and I try..." He keeps trying to pull it back together. Trying to find safety.
"I'm gonna get so high, You'll never get inside,"
He's running away from the mess he made, to try and repair what's left of himself.
"I swore I'd never turn into you, I'm closer all the time"
He's realized that he's becoming that someone he said he never would.
"I made it 10 miles high, Can't tell my truths from my lies"
He can't see what's really a part of who he is, and what's changed inside of him to fit the someone he hates. He doesn't know which flaws are his flaws, and which good traits are his traits.
"I swore to god I would never turn into you, I'm getting closer, All the time."
He's so angry that he let himself become this person that he hates so much.
"Tear it all down" basically means he's going to rip himself apart, just to see what's left of him.
This interpretation is kind of personal, because it's kind of what I'm going through right now, but music is entirely personal in my opinion. People form relationships with different songs, and no two relationships are the same. shrug