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.
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
If I wanted to, I could do anything right
I could dance with the devil on a Saturday night
If I wanted to, I could turn matches to gold
smoke, drink, swear, and I would never grow old
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
If I only wanted to
If I wanted to, I could run fast as a train
Be as sharp as a needle that's twisting your brain
If I wanted to, I could turn mountains to sand
Have political leaders in the palm of my hand
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
I could leave tonight, and I would be all right
Stop holding on if I wanted to, if I only wanted to
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
If I wanted to, I could be as patient as death
Fix this hole in my heart leaking into my flesh
If I wanted to, I could turn sparks into ice
There'd never be another woman
Who could make you think twice
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to, if I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh
Ah, hey if I wanted to
hey hey hey hey
if I wanted to
hey hey hey hey
if I wanted to
if I wanted to
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
If I wanted to, I could do anything right
I could dance with the devil on a Saturday night
If I wanted to, I could turn matches to gold
smoke, drink, swear, and I would never grow old
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
If I only wanted to
If I wanted to, I could run fast as a train
Be as sharp as a needle that's twisting your brain
If I wanted to, I could turn mountains to sand
Have political leaders in the palm of my hand
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
I could leave tonight, and I would be all right
Stop holding on if I wanted to, if I only wanted to
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
If I wanted to, I could be as patient as death
Fix this hole in my heart leaking into my flesh
If I wanted to, I could turn sparks into ice
There'd never be another woman
Who could make you think twice
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to, if I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
Hey, if I only wanted to
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh
Ah, hey if I wanted to
hey hey hey hey
if I wanted to
hey hey hey hey
if I wanted to
if I wanted to
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh, oh
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