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.
If you could see yourself
The way that I do
You might change
A thing or two
You wouldn’t look so angry
You’d know it doesn’t
Look good on you
So grab your coat
And grab your hat
There ain’t no saying
If we’re coming back
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
Do you remember
How we’d stay out so late
We used to have
So much fun
We used to wish that the morning sun
Just wouldn’t ever come
But look at us now
We’re tucked in tight
We’re just praying for a little light
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
I need to tell you now
As we leave
That it’s much worse
Than you would believe
And no matter how far
You think you’ve been
The beginning
Well that's where you are
So I’m using my last match
To put a fire up on every hill
And burn down Pleasantville
We never did learn
How to use our voices
We never thought
That we’d be heard
The only way they'd ever listen
Is if we'd scream every word
Cause there’s nothing
In our walk
That just ain’t the kind of luck we’ve got
So let’s move on
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
The way that I do
You might change
A thing or two
You wouldn’t look so angry
You’d know it doesn’t
Look good on you
So grab your coat
And grab your hat
There ain’t no saying
If we’re coming back
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
Do you remember
How we’d stay out so late
We used to have
So much fun
We used to wish that the morning sun
Just wouldn’t ever come
But look at us now
We’re tucked in tight
We’re just praying for a little light
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
I need to tell you now
As we leave
That it’s much worse
Than you would believe
And no matter how far
You think you’ve been
The beginning
Well that's where you are
So I’m using my last match
To put a fire up on every hill
And burn down Pleasantville
We never did learn
How to use our voices
We never thought
That we’d be heard
The only way they'd ever listen
Is if we'd scream every word
Cause there’s nothing
In our walk
That just ain’t the kind of luck we’ve got
So let’s move on
Cause something’s gone
So terribly wrong
Here in Pleasantville
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
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hey, xmakesherflyx, i think both your answers are right on some level. I think its about a relationship on the rock in the form of a metaphor about an old town the went downhill.