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.
Well I've been out walking,
I don't do that much talking
These days, These days.
These days I seem to think a lot
about the things that I forgot to do,
for you.
And all the times I had the chance to.
And I had a lover,
but it's so hard to risk another,
These days, these days.
Now if I seem to be afraid
to live the life that I have made
in song.
Well it's just that I've been losing
for so long.
Well I'll keep on moving (moving on)
Things are bound to be improving
These days, One of these days.
These days I'll sit on cornerstones
and count the time in quarter tones
to ten,
my friend.
Don't confront me with my failures,
I have not forgotten them.
I don't do that much talking
These days, These days.
These days I seem to think a lot
about the things that I forgot to do,
for you.
And all the times I had the chance to.
And I had a lover,
but it's so hard to risk another,
These days, these days.
Now if I seem to be afraid
to live the life that I have made
in song.
Well it's just that I've been losing
for so long.
Well I'll keep on moving (moving on)
Things are bound to be improving
These days, One of these days.
These days I'll sit on cornerstones
and count the time in quarter tones
to ten,
my friend.
Don't confront me with my failures,
I have not forgotten them.
Lyrics submitted by hourafterdark
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I'd like to know if there is concrete proof that this song was written at 16. Many artists DO LIE about stuff, lol. The point of view is from a man who knows loss and failure, several, in fact, to the extent that he is unwilling to be hurt again. That's not a 16 yo pov even for a profound artist. The most interesting part aside from its very direct and profound expression of pain in the first four stanzas is the very last stanza which expresses extreme caution (counting out the quarter tones to ten) and a high degree of observation (sitting on cornerstones to see both ways). In the song he mentions that he fails to live out the life he makes in song; he projects as an artist more than he is willing to give as a man. Absolutely heartbreaking to realize how hopelessly fearful a person exists. But he allows that things might improve, perhaps when he forgets his failures. Maybe then he can risk love again. I'd say the lyrics were written some time after a major breakup. They clearly describe a man with emotional baggage.
The song was recorded by other artists, all who give him appropriate credit, at a time around when he would have been 16. Pretty conclusive.
This version of the song was first recorded by Nico in 1967, when Browne was 19. But he claims he wrote it when he was 16. Either way, he was pretty young at the time.
He says so on his Acoustic Vol I album that he was 16. I'd take his word for it. I do not think it's so unbelievable that a 16 year old could write this. After all he is an amazing song writer - so the fact that he had the skill as a later teenager is not such a crazy thought.