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.
It gets lonliest at night
Down at the liquor store
Beneath the neon sky
Our moonlight
Six a.m. the floor comes alive with lice
The pan's dried up so tight
With hardened beans
We're hungry
So I lean on you sometimes
Just to see you're still there
Your feet can't take the weight of one
Much less two
We hit concrete
How were we born into this mess?
I know I painted you a prettier picture, baby
But we were run out on a rail
Fell from the wagon to the night train
I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissing you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two
Cigarettes they fill the gaps
In our empty days
In our broken teeth
We're jonesing
Say mister, can you spare a dime?
Some change could make a change
Could buy some time
Some freedom
Or an ear to hear my story
It's all I've got
My fiction beats the hell out of my truth
A palm upturned burnt blue
Don't call it sunburn
You've been shaking on the job
Just one drink ahead of your past
There's a white light coming up
You draw the blinds hoping it'll pass
I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissin you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two
Down at the liquor store
Beneath the neon sky
Our moonlight
Six a.m. the floor comes alive with lice
The pan's dried up so tight
With hardened beans
We're hungry
So I lean on you sometimes
Just to see you're still there
Your feet can't take the weight of one
Much less two
We hit concrete
How were we born into this mess?
I know I painted you a prettier picture, baby
But we were run out on a rail
Fell from the wagon to the night train
I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissing you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two
Cigarettes they fill the gaps
In our empty days
In our broken teeth
We're jonesing
Say mister, can you spare a dime?
Some change could make a change
Could buy some time
Some freedom
Or an ear to hear my story
It's all I've got
My fiction beats the hell out of my truth
A palm upturned burnt blue
Don't call it sunburn
You've been shaking on the job
Just one drink ahead of your past
There's a white light coming up
You draw the blinds hoping it'll pass
I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissin you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two
Lyrics submitted by emoJustin
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This is a song about choosing between love and alcohol. The guy is an alcoholic and made the decision to keep drinking instead of choosing love. This is a great song. Blake rules
i disagree. i think it's about a guy who's havin problems in a relationship, and rather than deal with them, he drinks.
after thinking about it..... I kind of agree with you. but I think part of mine is in their too
Pretty sad song. I think it's talking about a guy and a girl who seem to going through hard times together. They're both dealing with their problems and he relies on her, then he goes off and drinks, leaving her with nobody.
The thing I'm confused about is the line "a palm upturned burnt blue." My initial thought was something to do with physical abuse. Not quite sure though.
I would say this song is much like what "the phil" says. A man whose problem with alcohol starts to ruin him and he almost pulls down his loved one with him. I would guess that the guy ended up ruined begging for change, telling fake stories to whomever will listen.
The "palm upturned burnt blue" could be part of the begger life. A palm upturned begging for money, burnt blue from the harsh cold life on the street.
The girl seems to make it out ok for the most part, still has a job, just memories of the old boyfriend left. Perhaps he died, seeing that she "wakes up to an empty night, with tears for two". However maybe im reaching :-)
The song is about regret. Instead of being with someone that he really loved he chose to party and drink. Eveyone goes through regret and this song is perfect to relate to.
prettiest song ive ever heard. he loves her so much but cant stop what he's doing thats hurting them both. he wanted so many things for the both of them that cant happen now as a result of their alcoholism. i get all weepy everytime i hear this.
you gotta listen to Lucero's cover of this song...pretty sweet
Robert Nanna of Braid has a perfect cover of this song.
the sparta cover of this song does it justice.. thats for rockspace. but ya we all interpret this song differently