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.
*song opens with a soundbyte*
Some pro animal liberation British woman talking about how slaughterhouses smell like "hot death" and how the animals look so terrified as they die and all the nitty gritty fun stuff
*John sings*
Its funny to think I trusted you
Its funny to think that
I have spent my whole damn life supporting you
Its funny that I believed in you
It's funny I thought
That you'd be there if I should ever call on you
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
*soundbyte kicks in again*
The same woman from the first clip is talking about how its alright to be radical when you stand for a cause, etc.
*John sings*
Now that I know that you work for them
Now that I know your life
Is based around such lies and corperate greed
You only believe what you are told
You only defend laws that are old
Because it's law don't make it right
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
*soundbyte kicks in once again*
Its our activist British woman friend again, and this time she's talking about how we have the freedom of speech and we cannot be put to death for having thoughts. She then goes on to say that if we speak our minds we can fight the cruelty towards animals, we can save them because they can't stand up for themselvs, etc. and so on
*John sings*
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
Its funny to think I trusted you
Its funny to think that
I have spent my whole damn life supporting you
Its funny that I believed in you
Its funny I thought
That you'd be there if I should ever call on you
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
*guess what kids, another soundbyte!*
once again our British woman activist takes the floor, and she says that her goal is total liberation for animals. Basically, don't eat them, wear them, put them in zoos, stare at them, touch them, just don't do anything to the animals that you don't want done to yourself and you can make her and every animal supporter happy.
Some pro animal liberation British woman talking about how slaughterhouses smell like "hot death" and how the animals look so terrified as they die and all the nitty gritty fun stuff
*John sings*
Its funny to think I trusted you
Its funny to think that
I have spent my whole damn life supporting you
Its funny that I believed in you
It's funny I thought
That you'd be there if I should ever call on you
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
*soundbyte kicks in again*
The same woman from the first clip is talking about how its alright to be radical when you stand for a cause, etc.
*John sings*
Now that I know that you work for them
Now that I know your life
Is based around such lies and corperate greed
You only believe what you are told
You only defend laws that are old
Because it's law don't make it right
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
*soundbyte kicks in once again*
Its our activist British woman friend again, and this time she's talking about how we have the freedom of speech and we cannot be put to death for having thoughts. She then goes on to say that if we speak our minds we can fight the cruelty towards animals, we can save them because they can't stand up for themselvs, etc. and so on
*John sings*
So now I'm jaded
Friends turn to enemies
Its funny to think I trusted you
Its funny to think that
I have spent my whole damn life supporting you
Its funny that I believed in you
Its funny I thought
That you'd be there if I should ever call on you
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
All my life
I've done what I've been asked
So who is right?
The one behind the mask
*guess what kids, another soundbyte!*
once again our British woman activist takes the floor, and she says that her goal is total liberation for animals. Basically, don't eat them, wear them, put them in zoos, stare at them, touch them, just don't do anything to the animals that you don't want done to yourself and you can make her and every animal supporter happy.
Lyrics submitted by Alucard
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
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.
Its saying the Goverment is our "friend" but only when we follow what it wants. The goverment is against Animal rights, and thus "friends turn to enemies"