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.
Close the door and take the stairs
Up or down, ups and downs
Well, don't pretend you've never been there
You kiss me like an over-dramatic actor
Who's starving for work
With one last shot to make it happen
You've won the role, you've played your part
You've been cordially invited
But I'm not impressed, and I'm definitely not excited
'Cause the film runs a shallow budget
And the writer's subject script isn't any deeper
So dive right in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
She said
"Alright alright, slow down"
Oh no, oh no, we won't
'Cause I regret everything that I said
To ever make her feel like she was something special
Or that she ever really mattered
Or did she ever really matter?
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Just don't count on this summer
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl oh oh
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl
Alright, alright, slow down
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Up or down, ups and downs
Well, don't pretend you've never been there
You kiss me like an over-dramatic actor
Who's starving for work
With one last shot to make it happen
You've won the role, you've played your part
You've been cordially invited
But I'm not impressed, and I'm definitely not excited
'Cause the film runs a shallow budget
And the writer's subject script isn't any deeper
So dive right in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
She said
"Alright alright, slow down"
Oh no, oh no, we won't
'Cause I regret everything that I said
To ever make her feel like she was something special
Or that she ever really mattered
Or did she ever really matter?
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Just don't count on this summer
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl oh oh
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl
Alright, alright, slow down
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
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Radiohead
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Everyone just is way too dramatic and he is saying he's not like that and he won't give up doing what he loves until at least forty-seven? Don't know, but I love this song.