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 so excited because I'm gonna go to the High School of Performing
Arts, I mean I was dying to be a serious actress.
Anyway, it's our first day acting class and we're in the auditorium and
the teacher, Mr. Karp, puts us upon the stage with
our legs around everybody, one in back of the other, and he says:
"Okay, we're gonna do improvisations...Now, you're on a
bobsled and it's snowing out and it's cold.
.. Okay, go!"Everyday for a week we would try to feel
the motion,Feel the motion down the hill.
Every day for a week we would try to hear the wind
rush Hear the wind rush, feel the chill And I dug right
down to the bottom of my soul To see what I had inside.Yes,
I dug right down to the bottom of my soul And I tried,
I tried!And everybody goin' "Woosh... woosh ... I feel the snow, I feel the
cold,I feel the air..." And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says: "Okay,
Morales, what did you feel?
"And I said... "Nothing, I'm feeling nothing,
"And he says "Nothing could get a girl transferred.
"They all felt something, but I felt nothing Except
the feelin' that this bullcrap was absurd!
But I said to myself, "Hey, it's only the first week. Maybe it's
genetic, They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!
"Second week, more advanced, And we had to be a table, Be a sportscar,
Ice-cream cone.Mister Karp,
he would say, "Very good, except Morales.
Try, Morales, all alone."And I dug right down to the
bottom of my soul To see how an ice cream
felt... Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried to melt!The kids yelled,
"Nothing!" They called me "Nothing"And Karp allowed
it, which really makes me burn.
They were so helpful, they called me "Hopeless",
Until I really didn't know where else to turn.
And Karp kept saying, "Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's
High, You'll never be an actress,
Never!" Jesus Christ!Went to church,
praying, Santa Maria, Send me guidance,
Send me guidance on my knees.
Went to church praying, Santa Maria,
Help me feel it,Help me feel it pretty please.
And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul Came
up to the top of my head And a voice from down at the
bottom of my soul, Here is what it said:This man is
nothing! This course is nothing!
If you want something go find another class.
And when you find one You'll be an actress.
And I assure you that's what finally came to pass.
Six months later I heard that Karp had died.
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul And cried...'Cause
I felt........ nothing.
Arts, I mean I was dying to be a serious actress.
Anyway, it's our first day acting class and we're in the auditorium and
the teacher, Mr. Karp, puts us upon the stage with
our legs around everybody, one in back of the other, and he says:
"Okay, we're gonna do improvisations...Now, you're on a
bobsled and it's snowing out and it's cold.
.. Okay, go!"Everyday for a week we would try to feel
the motion,Feel the motion down the hill.
Every day for a week we would try to hear the wind
rush Hear the wind rush, feel the chill And I dug right
down to the bottom of my soul To see what I had inside.Yes,
I dug right down to the bottom of my soul And I tried,
I tried!And everybody goin' "Woosh... woosh ... I feel the snow, I feel the
cold,I feel the air..." And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says: "Okay,
Morales, what did you feel?
"And I said... "Nothing, I'm feeling nothing,
"And he says "Nothing could get a girl transferred.
"They all felt something, but I felt nothing Except
the feelin' that this bullcrap was absurd!
But I said to myself, "Hey, it's only the first week. Maybe it's
genetic, They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!
"Second week, more advanced, And we had to be a table, Be a sportscar,
Ice-cream cone.Mister Karp,
he would say, "Very good, except Morales.
Try, Morales, all alone."And I dug right down to the
bottom of my soul To see how an ice cream
felt... Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried to melt!The kids yelled,
"Nothing!" They called me "Nothing"And Karp allowed
it, which really makes me burn.
They were so helpful, they called me "Hopeless",
Until I really didn't know where else to turn.
And Karp kept saying, "Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's
High, You'll never be an actress,
Never!" Jesus Christ!Went to church,
praying, Santa Maria, Send me guidance,
Send me guidance on my knees.
Went to church praying, Santa Maria,
Help me feel it,Help me feel it pretty please.
And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul Came
up to the top of my head And a voice from down at the
bottom of my soul, Here is what it said:This man is
nothing! This course is nothing!
If you want something go find another class.
And when you find one You'll be an actress.
And I assure you that's what finally came to pass.
Six months later I heard that Karp had died.
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul And cried...'Cause
I felt........ nothing.
Lyrics submitted by SnuffieSniffer
Nothing Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I relate to this song a whole hell of a lot... I went to a performing arts high school, and I was the class outcast who didn't really get these silly "Theatre games" we had to play during class... The first time I heard this song was onstage at my school, and I didn't really pay attention to it, because I was paying more attention to the overall performance.... But I had the soundtrack record from the original 197* production in new york, and I listened to this song, and at the end when Diana sings
"SIX MONTHS LATER I HEARD THAT KARP HAD DIED. AND I DUG RIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF MY SOUL.... AND CRIED, 'CAUSE I FELT.... NOTHING. "
I couldn't stop crying for almost a half hour...
So on to what this song means... This song is about being emotionally numb... Being emotionally numb is a lot like when the dentist shoots your jaw full of novocaine, and you can't feel the surface of your skin, but you can feel deep in your tissue, under the surface... Diana hears about her former teachers death, and there's nothing there.... no sadness, no resentment, no anger, no happiness... But the tears came... and with them, a dull ache of emotion, not really felt, but under the surface...
I think when Diana finds out that Karp died, she does not feel any emotion, and she cries because she feels that she is heartless and numb to emotion.