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.
Thirteen grand
A year in the Meadowlands
Bored and rural-poor, Lord, at 35, right?
I'm the best seventeen-year-old ever
I've worked these sands
I won't go back again
Quitter, quitter, one boy bitter - rough luck
Man to man, hand to hand, fight forty
We're losing sand!
A Wrens' ditch battle plan
Record after record, black and deckered, tack, tack!
Definition: hell and high water
Fatty come a courting, Lord, the money!
Everyone choose sides
The whole to-do of what to do for money
Everyone choose sides
Poorer or not this year and hell's the difference
End of ropes and lines
From a house damned
To divorce and back again
Split my off days and holidays and days done
With a card to dad and calls to "Hi, momma"
Let's talk plans
And luck said, "Double damned
Were you give women worth winning or what?
A wasted share of shots at high-tide heaven"
Greener grasses fade from where you wind up
Everyone choose sides
I'm back! I'm back! So sing to raise the blind up
Everyone choose sides
I've walked away from more than you imagine, and I sleep just fine
We fought and brought up more
The shovel's high up on the ten-ton line
A year in the Meadowlands
Bored and rural-poor, Lord, at 35, right?
I'm the best seventeen-year-old ever
I've worked these sands
I won't go back again
Quitter, quitter, one boy bitter - rough luck
Man to man, hand to hand, fight forty
We're losing sand!
A Wrens' ditch battle plan
Record after record, black and deckered, tack, tack!
Definition: hell and high water
Fatty come a courting, Lord, the money!
Everyone choose sides
The whole to-do of what to do for money
Everyone choose sides
Poorer or not this year and hell's the difference
End of ropes and lines
From a house damned
To divorce and back again
Split my off days and holidays and days done
With a card to dad and calls to "Hi, momma"
Let's talk plans
And luck said, "Double damned
Were you give women worth winning or what?
A wasted share of shots at high-tide heaven"
Greener grasses fade from where you wind up
Everyone choose sides
I'm back! I'm back! So sing to raise the blind up
Everyone choose sides
I've walked away from more than you imagine, and I sleep just fine
We fought and brought up more
The shovel's high up on the ten-ton line
Lyrics submitted by Jawbreaker4Fs, edited by patinthehat
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I finally found the unprinted stanza, as reported by Charles on the Wrens' forum:
"But let's see, that chorus ends with:
"poorer or not this year and hell's the difference / end of ropes and lines"
then if I remember right, the quiet verse is:
"from a house damned / to divorce and back again / spent my off days and holidays and days done / with a card to dad and calls to 'Hi, momma..'
or something. Cook for 4 years. Serves 1. Enjoy." wrens.com/board/viewtopic.php
I'm pretty sure it's "split" rather than "spent." But yeah.
"Greener grasses fade from where you wind up."
Favorite Wrens lyric. Actually, probably one of my favorite lyrics ever, at least thinking about it in the context of the song. Also, of course, "I've walked away from more than you imagine / and I sleep just fine".... this song and "This Boy is Exhausted" do such an awesome job of telling about their trials and tribulations as a band.
it means lots of things.
insert "everyone sell lies" in the chorus somewhere, and this lyric file is complete
Wrens are being self-refential again it seems. The song is about how they gave up the chance to be superstars for their artistic integrity. If you read up on the Wrens, that's pretty much what happened.
There is nothing wrong with this song. I've listened to it countless times, and everything is there: great melodies, drumming, awesome chorus, good melodies on the alternate chorus, and the ending outro is fucking incredible. Just... wow...
this song sounded powerful before i read the lyrics...now its just...wow. i give them so much respect for resisting the temptation of selling out. this song is dripping in emotion
this is one of the best songs i've ever heard. period.
I only just figured out the significance of the line "Greener grasses fade from where you wind up"; I listened to The Meadowlands today and when that line came up I suddenly made the connection with Grass records changing hands and becoming Wind Up records and whatnot.
Anyone know what's up with them and ten tons? There's a reference in She Sends Kisses, too.
Also I think there are some lyrics missing right before "Let's talk plans," but I can't tell what they are.
That is correct. Anyone know what these lyrics are?