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.
Watch you, on the one's and two's.
Through a window in a well lit room.
Become a recluse.
And I blame myself cause I make things hard and your just trying to help.
And when I wake up, your the first to call.
This is one more late night basement song.
And I'm so sore, my voice has gone to hell, and this is one more sleepless
Night,
Because we don't believe in filler baby.
If I could I'd sit this out.
(This is over when I say it's over.)
This is a lesson in procrastination.
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
And every single second that I put it off, means another lonely night I got
To race the clock.
(I ignore it and it ignores me too.)
What say we go and crash your car?
And every time I leave you go and lock the door.
So I walk myself picking at a chip on my shoulder, I'm another day late and
One year older.
It's failure by design.
And we just want sleep, but this night is hell.
I'm sick and sunk and I blame myself because I make things hard and your
Just trying to help.
I got no gas,I'm winding out my gears.
This is one more day on the verge of tears.
And now my head hurts and my health is a joke.
And now I got to stop cause the headphones broke.
And we don't believe in filler.
Baby, if I could I'd sit this out.
(This is over, when I say it's over.)
This is a lesson in procrastination.
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
And every single second that I put it off, means another lonely night I
Gotta race the clock.
(I ignore it and it ignores me too)
What say we go and crash your car?
And every time I leave you go and lock the door.
And I walk myself picking at a chip on my shoulder.
I'm another day late and one year older, it's failure by design.
I'm out of everything.
No one sleeps until we get this shit out on the shelves.
It's late, I'm faltering.
But this time I got nothing to say besides...
DO DO DO, DO DO DO
Through a window in a well lit room.
Become a recluse.
And I blame myself cause I make things hard and your just trying to help.
And when I wake up, your the first to call.
This is one more late night basement song.
And I'm so sore, my voice has gone to hell, and this is one more sleepless
Night,
Because we don't believe in filler baby.
If I could I'd sit this out.
(This is over when I say it's over.)
This is a lesson in procrastination.
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
And every single second that I put it off, means another lonely night I got
To race the clock.
(I ignore it and it ignores me too.)
What say we go and crash your car?
And every time I leave you go and lock the door.
So I walk myself picking at a chip on my shoulder, I'm another day late and
One year older.
It's failure by design.
And we just want sleep, but this night is hell.
I'm sick and sunk and I blame myself because I make things hard and your
Just trying to help.
I got no gas,I'm winding out my gears.
This is one more day on the verge of tears.
And now my head hurts and my health is a joke.
And now I got to stop cause the headphones broke.
And we don't believe in filler.
Baby, if I could I'd sit this out.
(This is over, when I say it's over.)
This is a lesson in procrastination.
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
And every single second that I put it off, means another lonely night I
Gotta race the clock.
(I ignore it and it ignores me too)
What say we go and crash your car?
And every time I leave you go and lock the door.
And I walk myself picking at a chip on my shoulder.
I'm another day late and one year older, it's failure by design.
I'm out of everything.
No one sleeps until we get this shit out on the shelves.
It's late, I'm faltering.
But this time I got nothing to say besides...
DO DO DO, DO DO DO
Lyrics submitted by BrandNew1208, edited by crackhitler
Failure by Design Lyrics as written by Garrett Tierney Brian Lane
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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'
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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/
Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song is, indeed, about the filler element. It's written as an apology to the producer (more than likely the recording engineer on an album like this); the person who would be sitting directly through the communication window in the recording studio..on the one's and twos (the 1, 2, 3, 4 count-off at the beginning of each song). It's this person's job to represent the artist, the label, and streamline the recording process; thus why he's trying to help. This whole song is about the pressure felt when you're in a studio, where time wasted is money spent. Anybody who has ever been in one can relate (i run one). When things fall apart, you panic. Everything is pretty literal. The producer probably is giving him a wakeup call for the few weeks they're on location for recording (the first to call). There's probably a self-locking door on the studio..and every time he goes out to make a phone call, or smoke, or get food..he has to call to get buzzed back in.
The guitar arrangement is really similar to 'Distopian Dream Girl' by Built to Spill; which may be an inside joke. This whole song is just that. Seriously..not everything is multi-faceted. That's what makes this a genius concept.