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.
These are the words
But not the truth
God bless them all
When they speak to you
But that's all right
On an empty stage
Sing out when
There's no other way
Come drift the town
Where secrets lie
Where friends & neighbors
Keep drifting by
But that's all right
You're here to stay
Sing out tonight
The empty page
I always thought I'd see
Your name in flashing light
You did it all for free girl
And freely ripped the night
(yr free to fight)
These are the words
But not the truth
God bless them all
When they speak to you
But that's all right
You're here to stay
Sing out tonight
The empty page
Do you remember the time
When you were new in town
You smashed yr head in the mirror baby
And kissed the frozen ground
(yr ripped up sound)
But not the truth
God bless them all
When they speak to you
But that's all right
On an empty stage
Sing out when
There's no other way
Come drift the town
Where secrets lie
Where friends & neighbors
Keep drifting by
But that's all right
You're here to stay
Sing out tonight
The empty page
I always thought I'd see
Your name in flashing light
You did it all for free girl
And freely ripped the night
(yr free to fight)
These are the words
But not the truth
God bless them all
When they speak to you
But that's all right
You're here to stay
Sing out tonight
The empty page
Do you remember the time
When you were new in town
You smashed yr head in the mirror baby
And kissed the frozen ground
(yr ripped up sound)
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I think this song is an appreciation of surroundings and life in an almost stoned point of view. Of course theres the appreciation of someone else.
How many songs in history have been 4 minutes and 20 seconds long and not about pot? There's not even a hint at getting baked in the lyrics themselves. It might help you both to lay off the weed a little.
My best guess at it is a story about an established rock star (who's probably a friend of the band) and the compromises they ran into along the way. The empty page (and "these are the words but not the truth" could be about writing lyrics that are meaningless or trite to get an audience. "Them all" who the star is blessing is the audience, critics, etc (ie the half-hearted compliments one gives to the crowd during the show to get them excited, or the game you play with critics because their word helps you rise the charts). They drift from town to town, their name is headlining the venues (flashing light)...and in the end, the words that the artist used were just an empty page of rhetoric.
Or, from a less cynical view, it could be that the empty page is a metaphor for the power of words and with a blank canvas the artist can "waste this town" and change the world, or it can be ripped, watered down or slipping, or in other words make no impact depending on what words you choose. In which case, the story could just be illustrating the possibilities for stardom in the flashing light or the downfalls (smashing your head in the mirror). Just my two cents.
Excellent explication of the lyrics, realitysoldier. I like your thinking.
Sorry guys, you're all wrong. The "Page" refers to Jimmy Page. When Steve Albini recorded Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Thurston kept trying to come around and he wanted to hang with them but Steve kept blowing him off. This is about that time period. I signed up for an account just to give this info....enjoy the truth.
"It might help you both to lay off the weed a little."
That is hilarious although I dig multiple viewpoints.
I thought the empty page always related to turning the page in the book of ur life. Ughh that Bob Seger song comes to mind.
Also I recall when he asks "do u remember the time when u were new in town" & it sounds like they were just starting out & u r young & anything u do like smashing "ur head in the mirror" came off as novel. Dylan Thomas's "Fern Hill"'s "prince of the appletowns comes to mind. Growing up suffocated in a small town "time held me green & dying"
However I like some of the above interpretations better than my own. I can be full of it sometimes in my metaphorical stretches.
The Empty Page is 4 minutes and 20 seconds long. 4.20 is a term used for smoking, or gathering to smoke, marijuana.