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.
(A mausoleum with hanging moss. In the centre a pyramid of skulls in front of a cross.)
CHRISTINE
You were once
my one companion . . .
you were all
that mattered . . .
You were once
a friend and father -
then my world
was shattered . . .
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
wishing you were
somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would
be here . . .
Wishing I could
hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I
never would . . .
Dreaming of you
won't help me to do
all that you dreamed
I could . . .
Passing bells
and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you,
the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years
fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past
just die . . .?
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
knowing we must
say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive . . .
teach me to live . . .
give me the strength
to try . . .
No more memories,
no more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
the wasted years . . .
Help me say
goodbye.
(The PHANTOM emerges from behind the cross)
PHANTOM (very soft and enticing)
Wandering child . . .
so lost . . .
so helpless . . .
yearning for my
guidance . . .
(Bewildered, CHRISTINE looks up, and murmurs breathlessly):
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . or father . . .
friend . . . or
Phantom . . . ?
Who is it there,
staring . . . ?
PHANTOM (more and more hypnotic)
Have you
forgotten your Angel . . .?
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . oh, speak . . .
What endless
longings
echo in this
whisper . . .!
(RAOUL appears in the shadows and watches for a moment transfixed)
PHANTOM (now drawing CHRISTINE towards him)
Too long you've wandered
in winter . . .
RAOUL (to himself a murmur)
Once again
she is his . . .
PHANTOM
Far from my
far-reaching gaze . . .
RAOUL
Once again
she returns . . .
CHRISTINE (increasingly mesmerized)
Wildly my mind
beats against you . . .
PHANTOM
You resist . . .
PHANTOM AND CHRISTINE
Yet your/the soul
obeys . . .
RAOUL
. . . to the arms
of her angel . . .
angel or demon . . .
still he calls her . . .
luring her back, from the grave . . .
angel or dark seducer . . .?
Who are you, strange
angel . . .?
PHANTOM
Angel of Music!
You denied me,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
Do not shun me . . .
Come to your strange
Angel . . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music!
I denied you,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
My protector . . .
Come to me, strange
Angel . . .
(CHRISTINE moves towards the figure of the PHANTOM)
PHANTOM (beckoning her)
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (suddenly calling out)
Angel of darkness!
Cease this torment!
(Inexorably the PHANTOM continues to beckon CHRISTINE)
PHANTOM
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (in desperation)
Christine! Christine listen to me!
Whatever you may believe, this man . . .
this thing . . . is not your father!
(To the PHANTOM)
Let her go! For God's sake, let her go! Christine !
(Coming out of her trance CHRISTINE turns and mouths the words):
CHRISTINE
Raoul . . .
(She turns to RAOUL who embraces her protectively. The PHANTOM freezes for a moment and then suddenly seizes a pike upon which is impaled a skull. At a movement from him a flash of fire streaks from the gaping mouth of the skull and lands at RAOUL's feet)
PHANTOM
Bravo, monsieur!
Such spirited words!
(Another fireball)
RAOUL
More tricks, monsieur?
PHANTOM
Let's see, monsieur
how far you dare go!
(Another fireball)
RAOUL
More deception? More violence?
CHRISTINE (to RAOUL)
Raoul, no . . .
(RAOUL has begun to walk slowly and resolutely towards the PHANTOM the fireballs always landing just ahead of him)
PHANTOM
That's right, that's right,
monsieur
keep walking this way!
(Two more fireballs)
RAOUL
You can't win her love by making her your prisoner.
CHRISTINE
Raoul, don't . . .
RAOUL (to CHRISTINE)
Stay back!
PHANTOM
I'm here, I'm here,
monsieur:
the angel of death!
Come on, come on,
monsieur
Don't stop, don't stop!
(Three more fireballs. RAOUL. is almost at the PHANTOM's feet. A confrontation is imminent when CHRISTINE suddenly rushes across to RAOUL)
CHRISTINE
Raoul! Come back . . .
(She pulls him away)
PHANTOM
Don't go!
(As they are exiting, the PHANTOM declaims in fury):
So be it! Now let it be war upon you both!
(At a gesture from the PHANTOM, there is a flash of lighting and the stage erupts into flame)
CHRISTINE
You were once
my one companion . . .
you were all
that mattered . . .
You were once
a friend and father -
then my world
was shattered . . .
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
wishing you were
somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would
be here . . .
Wishing I could
hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I
never would . . .
Dreaming of you
won't help me to do
all that you dreamed
I could . . .
Passing bells
and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you,
the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years
fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past
just die . . .?
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
knowing we must
say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive . . .
teach me to live . . .
give me the strength
to try . . .
No more memories,
no more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
the wasted years . . .
Help me say
goodbye.
(The PHANTOM emerges from behind the cross)
PHANTOM (very soft and enticing)
Wandering child . . .
so lost . . .
so helpless . . .
yearning for my
guidance . . .
(Bewildered, CHRISTINE looks up, and murmurs breathlessly):
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . or father . . .
friend . . . or
Phantom . . . ?
Who is it there,
staring . . . ?
PHANTOM (more and more hypnotic)
Have you
forgotten your Angel . . .?
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . oh, speak . . .
What endless
longings
echo in this
whisper . . .!
(RAOUL appears in the shadows and watches for a moment transfixed)
PHANTOM (now drawing CHRISTINE towards him)
Too long you've wandered
in winter . . .
RAOUL (to himself a murmur)
Once again
she is his . . .
PHANTOM
Far from my
far-reaching gaze . . .
RAOUL
Once again
she returns . . .
CHRISTINE (increasingly mesmerized)
Wildly my mind
beats against you . . .
PHANTOM
You resist . . .
PHANTOM AND CHRISTINE
Yet your/the soul
obeys . . .
RAOUL
. . . to the arms
of her angel . . .
angel or demon . . .
still he calls her . . .
luring her back, from the grave . . .
angel or dark seducer . . .?
Who are you, strange
angel . . .?
PHANTOM
Angel of Music!
You denied me,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
Do not shun me . . .
Come to your strange
Angel . . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music!
I denied you,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
My protector . . .
Come to me, strange
Angel . . .
(CHRISTINE moves towards the figure of the PHANTOM)
PHANTOM (beckoning her)
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (suddenly calling out)
Angel of darkness!
Cease this torment!
(Inexorably the PHANTOM continues to beckon CHRISTINE)
PHANTOM
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (in desperation)
Christine! Christine listen to me!
Whatever you may believe, this man . . .
this thing . . . is not your father!
(To the PHANTOM)
Let her go! For God's sake, let her go! Christine !
(Coming out of her trance CHRISTINE turns and mouths the words):
CHRISTINE
Raoul . . .
(She turns to RAOUL who embraces her protectively. The PHANTOM freezes for a moment and then suddenly seizes a pike upon which is impaled a skull. At a movement from him a flash of fire streaks from the gaping mouth of the skull and lands at RAOUL's feet)
PHANTOM
Bravo, monsieur!
Such spirited words!
(Another fireball)
RAOUL
More tricks, monsieur?
PHANTOM
Let's see, monsieur
how far you dare go!
(Another fireball)
RAOUL
More deception? More violence?
CHRISTINE (to RAOUL)
Raoul, no . . .
(RAOUL has begun to walk slowly and resolutely towards the PHANTOM the fireballs always landing just ahead of him)
PHANTOM
That's right, that's right,
monsieur
keep walking this way!
(Two more fireballs)
RAOUL
You can't win her love by making her your prisoner.
CHRISTINE
Raoul, don't . . .
RAOUL (to CHRISTINE)
Stay back!
PHANTOM
I'm here, I'm here,
monsieur:
the angel of death!
Come on, come on,
monsieur
Don't stop, don't stop!
(Three more fireballs. RAOUL. is almost at the PHANTOM's feet. A confrontation is imminent when CHRISTINE suddenly rushes across to RAOUL)
CHRISTINE
Raoul! Come back . . .
(She pulls him away)
PHANTOM
Don't go!
(As they are exiting, the PHANTOM declaims in fury):
So be it! Now let it be war upon you both!
(At a gesture from the PHANTOM, there is a flash of lighting and the stage erupts into flame)
Lyrics submitted by fallacies
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