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.
slayde is my buddy, my pal, he is my brother i am one, he is the other when the sun shines, he is my shadow and when the moon is high, it's at his feet i lie but i'll never listen to what slayde says i'll never listen to what slayde says slayde's always talking, and it's rarely nice he's always whispering his poisonous advice he is secretive, ruthless and cold he mentions just enough and leaves the rest untold he said, "don't ever risk an open attack, just smile into their faces and then stab them in the back" but slayde, i said, what about the weak, the helpless and the small? he just sneered and said, "fuck 'em all, fuck 'em all" he said i am a murderer, although i've killed no one you talk in puzzles slayde, i said, what have you really done? "i've cut the twining cord, i've shot the turtle dove, i've shut out that precious light that shines from above" slayde, you are a poet, i said but what are you truly speaking of? he smiled and whispered, "i murdered love" he smiled and whispered, "i murdered love" i guess i hate him, no, that's not really true he's not completely bad, sometimes he'll crack a joke or two i guess i've grown accustomed to his funny ways it's not his fault that he was made that way i hear him in my sleep, i see him in my dreams i see him crouched before some terrible machine and then i face a mirror and he steps in between can you tell me, what does this mean? can you tell me, what does this mean? now i lay me down to sleep and pray to god my soul to keep if i should die before i wake you'll know i've made my escape but there is one step i'll never take i'll never listen to what a slayde says...
Lyrics submitted by jesssica
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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.
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This song seems to be about The "Knave". Privileged in knowing about his host and the world he is involved in, sometimes more than the host does himself. To mention just enough and leave the rest untold is his "way". this causes the host to assume the rest. to hang himself so to speak.
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To step in front of the mirror means he wants all his ways to be the song writer's. dark, corrupt, devoid of love. for his darkness to be the light instead of the spirit. I think this may be common for those in the same "house". Was it church? School? Television? Government? what makes us in the same house I wonder. He is like a weed that bears fruit. Chokes the garden but does offer something to eat, like a raspberry.