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.
Terry
Are you optimistic
'bout the way things are going?
Peter
No, I never ever think of it at all
Terry
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
Peter
No, I try to mind my business,
that is, no business at all
Terry
When it's time to function
as a feeling human being, will your
Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
Peter
I hope to study further,
a few more years or so. I also hope
to keep a steady high
Terry
Will you try to change
things, use the power that you have,
the power of a million new ideas?
Peter
What is this power you
speak of and this need for things to
change? I always thought
that everything was fine
Terry
Don't you feel repression just
closing in around?
Peter
No, the campus here is very, very free
Terry
Does it make you angry
the way war is dragging on?
Peter
Well, I hope the President
knows what he's into, I don't know
Terry
Don't you ever see the starvation
in the city where you live, all the
needless hunger all the
needless pain?
Peter
I haven't been there lately,
the country is so fine, but my
neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause
they haven't got the time
Terry
Thank you for the talk,
you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes
of things to come.
Peter
Well, if you had my
outlook your feelings would be
numb, you'd always think
that everything was fine
Are you optimistic
'bout the way things are going?
Peter
No, I never ever think of it at all
Terry
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
Peter
No, I try to mind my business,
that is, no business at all
Terry
When it's time to function
as a feeling human being, will your
Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
Peter
I hope to study further,
a few more years or so. I also hope
to keep a steady high
Terry
Will you try to change
things, use the power that you have,
the power of a million new ideas?
Peter
What is this power you
speak of and this need for things to
change? I always thought
that everything was fine
Terry
Don't you feel repression just
closing in around?
Peter
No, the campus here is very, very free
Terry
Does it make you angry
the way war is dragging on?
Peter
Well, I hope the President
knows what he's into, I don't know
Terry
Don't you ever see the starvation
in the city where you live, all the
needless hunger all the
needless pain?
Peter
I haven't been there lately,
the country is so fine, but my
neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause
they haven't got the time
Terry
Thank you for the talk,
you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes
of things to come.
Peter
Well, if you had my
outlook your feelings would be
numb, you'd always think
that everything was fine
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Dialogue (Part I) Lyrics as written by Robert Lamm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Most telling part of otherwise self explanatory song was last exchange between Terry and Peter:
(T)Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
(P)Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb You'd always think that everything was fine
Terry is being sarcastic here. Peter is sort of confessing he's shutting out the horror of the world