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.
When I was the one with the ruined look
Clustering around my face and
Every last corner of the day was bruised and gray
Who drove tired in the rain
Just to dump my gin down the drain
Arguing me back from the ledge,
I can still hear you say:
"Every single thing is bound to come and go"
[Chorus]
Whoa everything collides
And the rain starts falling down
It's a longshot longshot
But underdogs don't drown
Whoa step into the bullets
But never touch the ground
It's a longshot longshot
Be we won't be shot down
So who's this with the car collision ache
And the very last dime
Telling they can't keep guard one more blood night
Don't you know I am coming
With the lucky strikes and something
You used to say now tell me if I got it right:
"Every single thing is bound to come and go"
So people do weird things to each other
That the consolation book doesn't cover
And if this night's been practicing you
In a page of rain on the old war wound
Flatline blue and the taste of loss
Call me I'll wade the tides with you boss
We will take this flood apart
And drag this lake for its watery heat
Clustering around my face and
Every last corner of the day was bruised and gray
Who drove tired in the rain
Just to dump my gin down the drain
Arguing me back from the ledge,
I can still hear you say:
"Every single thing is bound to come and go"
[Chorus]
Whoa everything collides
And the rain starts falling down
It's a longshot longshot
But underdogs don't drown
Whoa step into the bullets
But never touch the ground
It's a longshot longshot
Be we won't be shot down
So who's this with the car collision ache
And the very last dime
Telling they can't keep guard one more blood night
Don't you know I am coming
With the lucky strikes and something
You used to say now tell me if I got it right:
"Every single thing is bound to come and go"
So people do weird things to each other
That the consolation book doesn't cover
And if this night's been practicing you
In a page of rain on the old war wound
Flatline blue and the taste of loss
Call me I'll wade the tides with you boss
We will take this flood apart
And drag this lake for its watery heat
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
A lot of Jesse's lyrics for Common Rider deal with how a mature perspective can change one's view of the sadness they experienced in their youth. He writes about looking back on a life bursting at the seams with loss and devastation, on this album, and trying to place things in some sort of transcendent poetic context. "Longshot" looks back, as well, describing how relationships function when you're young. See, mature Jesse knows that sorrow is a temporary state, but young Jesse didn't. And since mature Jesse can't communicate with young Jesse via time travel, it's only through communication with friends, loved ones or certain artists that perspective can be gained. Jesse describes himself as "the one with the ruined look", and how "every last corner of the day was bruised and gray". Dire straits, it sounds like, but luckily someone was there to "(drive) tired in the rain", get rid of the booze that probably wasn't helping things very much and talk him out of his suicidal state. "Every single thing is bound to come and go", says Jesse's friend, reminding him of the ephemeral nature of sadness. The 2nd verse inverts this situation, where it's someone else (presumably the friend from the 1st stanza) with an "ache" that they don't think they can handle for another night. So, just as they did for him, he goes to them with some "lucky strikes" and a certain helpful phrase: "Every single thing is bound to come and go". What a beautiful depiction of friendship. The 3rd verse is a bit opaque, but the parts I do understand comprise a beautiful promise and affirmation of Jesse's eternal devotion to this symbiotic relationship- if the tide gets too high, he says, "we will take this flood apart/ and drag this lake for its watery heart". In other words, no matter how hard things get, if the two of them function as a unit then they'll always be able to find the light in the darkness, the eye of the storm, etc. The chorus just reinforces the paradoxical nature of hope, asserting that although the world will inevitably challenge them and put their optimism to test after extreme test, the very toughness that threatens their existence will force them to cling to each other and become a unit strong enough to win. "Underdogs don't drown", he says- probably because they fight the hardest and have the least to lose. Brilliant, catchy song. Every song on this album is a straight-up classic, and is even better than the also wonderful "Classics of Love", in my opinion. This song is a perfect summary of everything that makes this album soar, both lyrically and musically, and so works wonderfully as a closer.
@fadetoflashes very well written, if you don't mind my compliment