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.
Automation is a subtractive process
Do you remember it?
We had a data date.
You tried to turn it back
Now you're a bit too late
Standing the light again
Open your mouth to speak
Give me a sign of life
(Touch me)
Make peace with your right brain
Sense of security
Logic cuts pure and deep
Logic all you need
A line dividing us
Cold stark reality
In logic you will find transformation
We have all the strengths of genius
And all the signs of weakness
You'd better go on believing
Interface cannot come between
"Deep down I believe I'll always be powerless."
Do you remember it?
We had a data date.
You tried to turn it back
Now you're a bit too late
Standing the light again
Open your mouth to speak
Give me a sign of life
(Touch me)
Make peace with your right brain
Sense of security
Logic cuts pure and deep
Logic all you need
A line dividing us
Cold stark reality
In logic you will find transformation
We have all the strengths of genius
And all the signs of weakness
You'd better go on believing
Interface cannot come between
"Deep down I believe I'll always be powerless."
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I believe this song is a lamentation at the difficulties of maintaining interpersonal relationships in an increasingly electronic world. The opening line calls out "automation is a subtractive process" because it takes away from human connections. The plea for a sign of life and the belief of powerless also support this sentiment, as does the use of an equal sign instead of the word "is" to show that all things are affected by the march of circuitry.
This is a song about longing, love, and the way that we are all choked off by the surfeit of technology. It is a powerful song that is expertly written and flawlessly performed.
I think you are write. When I first heard it it made me think that things are becoming to unreal given the line, "do you remember it? we had a data date." Meaning like an online date of some sorts I believe.
Anyway Sin did a good job.
data date...haha, reminds me of kraftwerk.
(i love kraftwerk)