The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.
I want to tell you something;
Listen to me,
I'm trying to say, I'm better than you,
I am only what I am"
"We must not stand still,
For the night is coming,
Every man, every woman and child,
Everybody help me"
I hear, only what I want to hear,
But, I have to believe in something,
Have to believe in just one thing.
I said father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.
Well, spare a listen for a restless fool,
There's something missing when I need your rule.
Well, hey there;
You tell me you're a holy man, but, although I am just a beginner,
I don't see you as a winner.
I said, sister Washington, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup;
If I could tell you what you need to know;
If I could tell you to get on with the show.
I'd rather never leave her,
There's a storm in my head,
Makes me hear what you say;
Just was it true?
So, what have I to do?
Well, what has he to do?-
Ooh, what is there to-oo do+
What oh-oh-ohoh
"All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord god made them all"
Mary, oh tell me what I'm living for,
Cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river,
Oh' have you a son to deliver.
I said, father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup,
You tell the children what you need to know,
But, will they listen when it's time to go.
Oh, sister Robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup,
Can someone tell me what I need to know,
Can someone help me to get on with the show
Listen to me,
I'm trying to say, I'm better than you,
I am only what I am"
"We must not stand still,
For the night is coming,
Every man, every woman and child,
Everybody help me"
I hear, only what I want to hear,
But, I have to believe in something,
Have to believe in just one thing.
I said father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.
Well, spare a listen for a restless fool,
There's something missing when I need your rule.
Well, hey there;
You tell me you're a holy man, but, although I am just a beginner,
I don't see you as a winner.
I said, sister Washington, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup;
If I could tell you what you need to know;
If I could tell you to get on with the show.
I'd rather never leave her,
There's a storm in my head,
Makes me hear what you say;
Just was it true?
So, what have I to do?
Well, what has he to do?-
Ooh, what is there to-oo do+
What oh-oh-ohoh
"All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord god made them all"
Mary, oh tell me what I'm living for,
Cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river,
Oh' have you a son to deliver.
I said, father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup,
You tell the children what you need to know,
But, will they listen when it's time to go.
Oh, sister Robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup,
Can someone tell me what I need to know,
Can someone help me to get on with the show
Lyrics submitted by cheeky_munkeys42, edited by Bryophyta, BradBelanger, AlphaFSC, kwisp
A Soapbox Opera Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Fortnight
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The line "I'd rather never leave her" is actually "But Father Ebeneezer", which is more in line with the song's theme of faith and doubt.
Yes, definitely, this song has strong connotations to the dogma and regimented nature of religion.
'I hear, only what I want to hear, But, I have to believe in something, Have to believe in just one thing.'
The odd belief that we MUST believe in only one god, a confined image of God. Where he stands as only the light, the truth, a benevolent warden in the skies, that grants us with things like love, and sunny days, and jaffa cakes.
It also refers to how religion looks at all that bad about you, 'father washington, you’re all mixed up, Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.' He states that religion is mixed up, how can something that's suppose to be so pure and free confine you to certain rules! its madness...
'dont do that! gods watching'
I think he wanted to express this feeling, for the ridiculousness of modern religion and faith.
As you said this is obviously about the religion. I would also add my personal theory about Rudy ( yes the Rudy from the Crime of the Century song ). I believe that some Supertramp songs are about Rudy and this one is probably about him as well. Chronogically speaking I would put it right after " Hide in your shell ". Rudy, after suffering something real bad, comes back to where he spent time as a child: church and his bitter taste of life now shows him things he did not realize back then. He does not find the comfort he searches for and he turns even more bitter and the " downward spiral " commences.
I do not know who transcribed the lyrics of "Crisis? What Crisis?" when the CD was remastered. They did not follow the songbook, which I have. Here are the lyrics to the questioned parts of "A Soapbox Opera:"
"Who'll spare a listen to a restless fool, there's something missing when I lead your rule."
Replace all the "saids" with "say" (I say Sister Robinson...)
"But rather than a reason, there's a smog in my head, makes me think what you said just wasn't true. So, what am I to do, well what is he to do?"
"Maybe, well tell me what I'm living for, 'cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river."
There are also mistakes in the other songs from the 1975 Album.
Yes, definitely, this song has strong connotations to the dogma and regimented nature of religion.
'I hear, only what I want to hear, But, I have to believe in something, Have to believe in just one thing.'
The odd belief that we MUST believe in only one god, a confined image of God. Where he stands as only the light, the truth, a benevolent warden in the skies, that grants us with things like love, and sunny days, and jaffa cakes.
It also refers to how religion looks at all that bad about you, 'father washington, you’re all mixed up, Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.' He states that religion is mixed up, how can something that's suppose to be so pure and free confine you to certain rules! its madness...
'dont do that! gods watching'
I think he wanted to express this feeling, for the ridiculousness of modern religion and faith.
hmm first, i want to say its not "father ebeneezer" either, he says "reevrend ebeneezer" im sure thats what u meant.... newayz, what an awesome song first of all, the melodies are so eerily magnificent and genius.
And yah, you summed it up pretty good wandering pebble, especially what you said about the first part. Its human nature to find consolation in believing one thing.
This song is not an attack on modern religion, but a questioning of Catholic faith. So much of what they preach has no biblical recognition. The Roman Catholic church has paganism riddled throughout its past, and sadly some of these pagans traditions have seeped into Protestantism. Namely, Sunday worship. THERE IS NOT ONE VERSE IN THE BIBLE THAT SPEAKS OF THE TRANSITION FROM THE OLD SABBATH (SATURDAY) TO SUNDAY (DAY OF THE SUN). I BET $1000 FOR ANYONE TO FIND ME ONE VERSE IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS THE HOLY SANTIFICATION OF SATURDAY HAS BEEN DROPPED. JESUS SAID "THINK THAT I HAVE NOT COME TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS. I HAVE NOT COME TO DO AWAY WITH THEM BUT TO ENFORCE THEM." CHECK SABBATH.ORG
It has been pointed out to me it the original lyric in the bridge is not "Reverend Ebenezer" - this is a misheard lyric, but Roger actually does sing that in some live versions - a wry sense of humour perhaps.
See Nasamike's corrections :)
This is probably my second favorite song by this band. Again, it's lyrics and music grab me someplace deep down.