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.
We can't play this game anymore, but
Can we still be friends?
Things just can't go on like before, but
Can we still be friends?
We had something to learn
Now it's time for the wheel to turn
Things are said one by one
Before you know it's all gone
Let's admit we made a mistake, but
Can we still be friends?
Heartbreak's never easy to take, but
Can we still be friends?
It's a strange sad affair
Sometimes seems like we just don't care
Don't waste time feeling hurt
We've been through hell together
La la la la, la la la la
Can we still be friends?
Can we still get together sometime?
We awoke from our dream
Things are not always what they seem
Memories linger on
It's like a sweet sad old song
Can we still be friends?
Things just can't go on like before, but
Can we still be friends?
We had something to learn
Now it's time for the wheel to turn
Things are said one by one
Before you know it's all gone
Let's admit we made a mistake, but
Can we still be friends?
Heartbreak's never easy to take, but
Can we still be friends?
It's a strange sad affair
Sometimes seems like we just don't care
Don't waste time feeling hurt
We've been through hell together
La la la la, la la la la
Can we still be friends?
Can we still get together sometime?
We awoke from our dream
Things are not always what they seem
Memories linger on
It's like a sweet sad old song
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is great in Vanilla Sky. I just watched that movie and it seemed like an odd choice for the scene it was in, but it actually fit in really well. I recomend the movie and the song!
Like the lyrics posted, it always sounded like, and made sense that, Todd says "Things are said, one by one", but listening on headphones just now, I was positive he says "Things ascend, on by one"...
So it hit me, Maybe there's a lyric sheet in my copy of "Hermit of Mink Hollow...lo and behold, what he actually says is: "Grains of Sand, one by one; Before you know it's all gone"
Also, one post called this a "sugary" pop song - really? The melody, the vocal performance and, especially, those eerie keyboards and "la la la's" in the breakdown make this song some much larger than just a sugary pop song.
I first heard this on a Robert Palmer 8-track that I bought at age 10 for "Bad Case of Loving You" (right around its release date), and the cover was ok, it was obvious this was a great song, but hearing the original was a revelation. It's been said Todd's a genius, and this song certainly is a work of genius!
The song's eeriness is the reason it works so good in Vanilla Sky. Cameron Crowe has great taste in music (Eagles included).
@force263 Yes really an underrated work of art. Check out some of the instrumental covers on Youtube for this song, especially the fingerstyle guitar ones. Really complex beautiful melodies.
omg i love this song
An okay song. Simple meaning. A tad bit to 80's-ish.
Song came out in the 70's not 80's.
this song hits so close to home. Obviously it's about a relationship ending, and still wanting to be friends. Games were played, and hearts broken, yet still wanting to be on good terms with one another.
This song is so amazing, so straight forward, Todd's vocals are haunting; a song like this could keep you up at night. One word: perfect.
I love this song. Although it's one of Todd's more "sugary" ballads, it's really a superbly-crafted pop song. If you have a good ear for music, you'll notice right away that this song is something special. If we talk about its song true meaning, I believe this song was written about Bebe Buell (Todd's girlfriend of many years) and their final break-up. Obviously, this girl is still loved, cared for and still important in this guy's life. Sometimes things don't work out, but life will still go on and on and on :)
I so wish my ex would listen to this song and be friends again. We were great friends before we got together and I wish I could have that part of things back.
I was just driving along feeling teary about my former love and thinking that the friendship is what I miss most. While looking for some good drown in my sorrows music, this came on. It was so perfect and if only he would talk to me I would ask him, "Can we still be friends?"