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.
Lying on the grass
Afternoon, there's always something happening
Friends go floating gently by.
I'm listening to a song inside my head,
Although the summer's past.
Those mythic dreams would never last,
Nor do I care anymore.
And if it makes you sad,
Remember all the things you have
That can't be bought.
Recollection brings me back,
Sad to think that it was just a fantasy.
We'd already accepted that,
Which many others struggled to believe.
And though it makes no sense,
I know there are no accidents.
I've no fear anymore,
And if it makes you sad.
To give up dreams you've always had,
That can't be caught
It just can't be fought.
Looking back at '91,
Reflecting on those things we could have
Said and done,
The dancing lights across a crowd.
Remind us of another town
That's dead and gone,
It's just dead and gone.
Take me to that summer past,
And tell me is it really worth remembering?
I realize that music then
Was really just a song in my head,
And though the fun has past.
Those mythic dreams would never last.
Have no fear anymore,
And if it makes you cry,
To look ahead well dry your eyes.
It can be done.
Yes, it can be done.
Afternoon, there's always something happening
Friends go floating gently by.
I'm listening to a song inside my head,
Although the summer's past.
Those mythic dreams would never last,
Nor do I care anymore.
And if it makes you sad,
Remember all the things you have
That can't be bought.
Recollection brings me back,
Sad to think that it was just a fantasy.
We'd already accepted that,
Which many others struggled to believe.
And though it makes no sense,
I know there are no accidents.
I've no fear anymore,
And if it makes you sad.
To give up dreams you've always had,
That can't be caught
It just can't be fought.
Looking back at '91,
Reflecting on those things we could have
Said and done,
The dancing lights across a crowd.
Remind us of another town
That's dead and gone,
It's just dead and gone.
Take me to that summer past,
And tell me is it really worth remembering?
I realize that music then
Was really just a song in my head,
And though the fun has past.
Those mythic dreams would never last.
Have no fear anymore,
And if it makes you cry,
To look ahead well dry your eyes.
It can be done.
Yes, it can be done.
Lyrics submitted by saturnine, edited by truthlover557
The Summer of '91 Lyrics as written by Ronnie Samoset Craig Michael Wiseman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The melody at the beinning reminds me very much of David Bowie's Lady Stardust. Maybe that's the song in his head. But probably it's something completely different. Does anyone have an idea what kind of music they were listening to at that time. Anyway, it's a wonderful song!
no idea, it sounds like he is high: "Friends go floating gently by I'm listening to a song inside my head" it seems like he was kind of dettached from his friends maybe he spent his whole summer this way... but thats probably wrong....
amazing song though my favorite of Trail of the Dead.
im probably very off here but i will say it anyway do you think the song has anything to do with nirvana's nevermind and its impact on the face of music? the summer of 91 was the summer before the album's release (sept 24, '91) and it just seems to me that the lyrics could be commentary on the state of things before and after an event all this talk of recollections, looking back to '91, etc
alot of what haunted kurt cobain the most (at least, this is the impression i got) was how all he wanted to do was make music that spoke to himself and others he hated all the "rock star" hoo hah and never intended to be a face on rolling stone magazine
perhaps these lyrics speak for him, and how he might have avoided that "Looking back at '91 Reflecting on those things we could have Said and done" maybe the album could have been produced less radio ready? its fact that the followup, in utero, was an obvious attempt at that (by then, it was too late, nirvana was the face of grunge)
words like "The dancing lights across a crowd Remind us of another town That's dead and gone It's just dead and gone" seem to me to symbolize the excess of mainstream rock and the monotony of endless touring
then theres more reflection of times before all this "Take me to that summer past And tell me is it really worth remembering? I realize that music then Was really just a song in my head And though the fun has past Those mythic dreams would never last" music was simple, music was pure, music was music music was not a job, not a pressure, not something to be tainted and corporatized "remember all the things you had that can't be bought"
i dunno you see where i am going with that train of thought tho? i couldnt help but think of kurt cobain thru out the song
what do you think?
I think it's about remembering a great time in your life, when you were happy and carefree. How times like that can't last forever, so you should treasure their memory but still look ahead to the future and try to create times that are just as good, 'It can be done'.
is it just me, or do these lyrics seem off...
"lying on a [shady] grass"
just an example, tho i could be wrong. i just got into these guys. good music.