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.
In this world of hate and shallowness
Where enemies become your consolation
And those of us who win the game
Give up their minds
I don't call that winning
Say this doesn't apply to you
But ask yourself first
What have I done to win the game
And just what have I sacrificed
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
Reflect on all our yesterdays
My own words choke me
Why were they spoken
Regret for things I've said and done
Just can't compare with
Regret for those that I have never tried
So blame this world or blame yourself
It's really all the same
When you are standing on that precipice
From which you just cannot return
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
In the style of forgotten men
I look to my horizon
I see nothing
While thoughts of death and desecration
Sweep through my mind
But only coffins and bones remain
As I look at you
The emptiness behind your eyes
Seals my decision
Can't carry on in a world of jugglers
Where all this thoughtlessness
And bludgeoning's your key to success
What kind of tradition to carry on
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - Your evil ways have found their way inside me
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - For a better life in this high tech dog eat dog existence
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
Where enemies become your consolation
And those of us who win the game
Give up their minds
I don't call that winning
Say this doesn't apply to you
But ask yourself first
What have I done to win the game
And just what have I sacrificed
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
Reflect on all our yesterdays
My own words choke me
Why were they spoken
Regret for things I've said and done
Just can't compare with
Regret for those that I have never tried
So blame this world or blame yourself
It's really all the same
When you are standing on that precipice
From which you just cannot return
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
In the style of forgotten men
I look to my horizon
I see nothing
While thoughts of death and desecration
Sweep through my mind
But only coffins and bones remain
As I look at you
The emptiness behind your eyes
Seals my decision
Can't carry on in a world of jugglers
Where all this thoughtlessness
And bludgeoning's your key to success
What kind of tradition to carry on
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - Your evil ways have found their way inside me
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - The new disease
Blackball - For a better life in this high tech dog eat dog existence
Win the battle
Lose the war
I know we played the game before
When people were still real
I don't want this anymore
It's time for me to close the door
There's nothing left to feel
Lyrics submitted by anarchysomething44, edited by PooPooThighs
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This song is about how the "powers that be" tend to exclude (blackball) things in society they don't like and that it often seems like the only way to advance in the world is to give in and start blackballing other people yourself. The song is about a person that is looking back on his life and realizing that he himself got caught up in the game of life and did things that he regrets, but he most regrets allowing himself to not do things because the mainstream told him not to. It's about disillusionment with a system that is keeping people down and destroying society.
This not a reference to drugs.