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, I never...
No, I never saw you...
Saw you try to pick yourself up
And I tried to...
Oh, I tried to tell you
But you were convinced you were stuck
And I never...
No, I never interfered with your own personal plans
God, I wanted...
God, I wanted to help you
But you wouldn't take hold of my hands
Chorus:
And I wanted more from this life
More than you could ever ask for
And I was building up a temple
Oh, you were getting drunk
And knocking yours to the floor
No, I never...
No, I never figured...
Figured you would get so bad
And I thought you...
Oh, I thought you would wake up
But you only got mad
And I tried to...
Oh, I tried to be open
But you kept yourself locked up
Well, all the feelings that you were feeling
You wouldn't share...
Share the pain that fucked you up
Repeat Chorus
And now we're...
And now we're so distant
Distant by more than just space
Because I'm out here...
Oh, I'm out here living a passion
And you are out of place
And I wanted more from this life
More than you could ever ask for
And I was building up a temple
Oh, you were getting drunk, yeah...
Repeat Chorus
No, I never saw you...
Saw you try to pick yourself up
And I tried to...
Oh, I tried to tell you
But you were convinced you were stuck
And I never...
No, I never interfered with your own personal plans
God, I wanted...
God, I wanted to help you
But you wouldn't take hold of my hands
Chorus:
And I wanted more from this life
More than you could ever ask for
And I was building up a temple
Oh, you were getting drunk
And knocking yours to the floor
No, I never...
No, I never figured...
Figured you would get so bad
And I thought you...
Oh, I thought you would wake up
But you only got mad
And I tried to...
Oh, I tried to be open
But you kept yourself locked up
Well, all the feelings that you were feeling
You wouldn't share...
Share the pain that fucked you up
Repeat Chorus
And now we're...
And now we're so distant
Distant by more than just space
Because I'm out here...
Oh, I'm out here living a passion
And you are out of place
And I wanted more from this life
More than you could ever ask for
And I was building up a temple
Oh, you were getting drunk, yeah...
Repeat Chorus
Lyrics submitted by judaskissidismiss
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
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.