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.
Oh what's wrong with me
Said oh what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And I just lost my virginity
To a girl who won't remember me at all
Took her out on a shopping spree
Happiness never happened for free
Could it be that I imagined things
I'm just sad instead of heartbroken
She came home but she's leaving again
She's coming back but she won't say when
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
My pop said I should be like him
My mom says I can live with them
I had to ask my little brother to lend
Me change for the bus 'til I see him again
I'm getting drunk every day of the week
My ship sunk but it had no leak
A fortune teller on Bishop street
She read my hand and the future is bleak
I'm tired of sitting upon the fence
I've got no self confidence
Why don't I have a circle of friends
I'm so square they don't even pretend
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
Don't give in
You can never let them win
But I get cold
I get cold
Every night, night, night
Without a prayer in my heart, heart, heart
Oh what's wrong with me
Said oh Lord what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And the train for my salvation
Is departing from the station
She don't feel like conversation
So I'm talking to myself
I got nobody else
I got my bottle of booze and my stale cigarettes
Down from the shelf
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
Said oh what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And I just lost my virginity
To a girl who won't remember me at all
Took her out on a shopping spree
Happiness never happened for free
Could it be that I imagined things
I'm just sad instead of heartbroken
She came home but she's leaving again
She's coming back but she won't say when
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
My pop said I should be like him
My mom says I can live with them
I had to ask my little brother to lend
Me change for the bus 'til I see him again
I'm getting drunk every day of the week
My ship sunk but it had no leak
A fortune teller on Bishop street
She read my hand and the future is bleak
I'm tired of sitting upon the fence
I've got no self confidence
Why don't I have a circle of friends
I'm so square they don't even pretend
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
Don't give in
You can never let them win
But I get cold
I get cold
Every night, night, night
Without a prayer in my heart, heart, heart
Oh what's wrong with me
Said oh Lord what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And the train for my salvation
Is departing from the station
She don't feel like conversation
So I'm talking to myself
I got nobody else
I got my bottle of booze and my stale cigarettes
Down from the shelf
And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more
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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.
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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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
one of the first songs i fell in love with off the album-other than "brother down" cause it'd been released and i was farmiliar with it and i loved it- how ever- this song was so catchy and the words were just so good- i love it. - i know what i dont wanna be: a dead end on the family tree- it's the same story for all of us i think...
my favourite song off the album... it just has this air of upbeat hopelessness that captures the ups and downs of having a quarter-life-crisis so damn well.
I used to think he said "Dead Head"...that'd be a pretty awsome line too
gotta love the "my ship sunk but it had no leak" line