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.
I'm gonna fight 'em off
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Takin' their time right behind my back
And I'm talkin' to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message comin' from my eyes
Says, "Leave it alone"
Don't wanna hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the Hounds of Hell
And if I catch it comin' back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do
And the feelin' comin' from my bones
Says, "Find a home"
I'm goin' to Wichita
Far from this opera forevermore
I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin'
Right before the Lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will think no more
And the stains comin' from my blood
Tell me, "Go back home"
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Takin' their time right behind my back
And I'm talkin' to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message comin' from my eyes
Says, "Leave it alone"
Don't wanna hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the Hounds of Hell
And if I catch it comin' back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do
And the feelin' comin' from my bones
Says, "Find a home"
I'm goin' to Wichita
Far from this opera forevermore
I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin'
Right before the Lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will think no more
And the stains comin' from my blood
Tell me, "Go back home"
Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by smallwonderrobot, goddamnboxes, Maxitos, LHGL, bbbert
Seven Nation Army Lyrics as written by John Anthony White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i'm gonna fight 'em off a seven nation army couldn't hold me back
He's talking about fighting off the people that are out to get him in one way or another, whether it be to physically hurt him, mentally hurt him, or just try to make him feel like crap.
they're gonna rip it off taking their time right behind my back
The people he's trying to fight off are gonna tell what they think to be true about something and "rip off" with their rumors and plot against him
and i'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget back and forth through my mind behind a cigarette
He can't get it out of his mind about these people that are out to get him
and the message coming from my eyes says leave it alone
His eyes are displaying emotions of stop "f*cking with me" and leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone's got their own story about something, different points of views and conclusions but he doesn't care
everyone knows about it from the queen of england to the hounds of hell
Everyone knows everybody else's story
and if i catch you comin' back my way i'm gonna sell it to you
If people come his way asking about it he's gonna give them his version of the story
and that ain't what you want to hear but that's what i'll do and the feeling coming from my bones says find a home
He has to go find a place to be comfortable in where he can rest his bones for a while
i'm going to wichita far from this opera forever more
Getting far away from the drama so he can concentrate on himself
i'm gonna work the straw make the sweat drip out of every pore
Concentrating on work his help him better himself and give him more self worth
and i'm bleedin' and i'm bleedin' and i'm bleedin' right before the lord
Proving himself
All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will THINK no more. and the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home
He will think freely as in say what he is thinking at all times instead of holding it back and he can show it to the world.
Thanks Noah, this is the best interpretation I think. The last phrase though is a bit hard. I think I would say:<br /> All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will THINK no more.<br /> and the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home<br /> <br /> I think what he means here is that his hard work is what will be useful, so thinking doesnt matter anymore, work does the job. After that, its over, he has done what he could, and nothing is left to do but to relax and let it go.
Awesome interpretation. Thank you.
Hey Noah, your interpretation is pretty close to what I was thinking as well. Very nice!