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Meaningless Lyrics
Oil tankers in the National Guard
I came to meet you
My car died in your yard
Why turn the key?
There's so much here to see
These are my memories
Of precious places, precious things
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
Old hinges squeaking in the rain
That hotel by the highway where we stayed
There's something every hour
Who needs the Eiffel Tower
When we've got memories?
Of precious places, precious things
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
The pen
The car
The paint
The pier
The moon and star
The message clear
Liberty raised her hand to us
As if to say:
"It's okay, live today, live today!''
I said:
''Don't leave me, don't break the tie!''
Then I left you and the time went rolling by
And here's what I can't stand
I know that every landmark triggers memories
Of stupid places and silly things
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
We'd seen them together
We'd seen them together
We'd seen them together
I came to meet you
My car died in your yard
Why turn the key?
There's so much here to see
These are my memories
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
That hotel by the highway where we stayed
There's something every hour
Who needs the Eiffel Tower
When we've got memories?
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
The car
The paint
The pier
The moon and star
The message clear
Liberty raised her hand to us
As if to say:
"It's okay, live today, live today!''
''Don't leave me, don't break the tie!''
Then I left you and the time went rolling by
And here's what I can't stand
I know that every landmark triggers memories
Of stupid places and silly things
That were meaningless
Before we'd seen them together
We'd seen them together
We'd seen them together
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I'm surprised nobody has commented on this song. Maybe it's because the lyrics are fairly straight forward. Anyway, it may be easy to figure out, but i love lyric. I really identified with it. I've had my heart broken a few times, and I felt the same way. In the weeks and months after I'd drive by a place or a sign that she had pointed at once years ago, and it would just make me so sad...and all it really is is a street sign! The last chorus he tries to convey this fact (and trick himself into believing) by changing "precious places" and "special things" to "stupid places" and "silly things". I just love that.
I almost forgot. I go to see Jon play regularly at a club in L.A. called Largo and he seems to have changed his mind about one of the lines of the song. For the past 3 or 4 years or so he always sings the line "then I left you" as "then you left me". Also, about half the time he sings the line "time went rolling be" as "time went crawling by". Isn't that great. It really could be either one. Years later it feels like time rolled by, but in the months just after the hurt time does "crawl" by. I just really like the fact that he changes that lyric from time to time. And like I said he always sings "then you left me" instead of "then I left you". I can see why he likes it better. When I first heard this song and I knew nothing about Jon Brion I remember liking it, but as listened to over and over again I didn't think the "then I left you" made sense. If he feels so horrible without her why did he leave her? I think Jon must have been thinking the same thing after he released it. Being too late, however, there was nothing he could do about and therefore sings the new lyric when he performs it live.
Wow, thanks rocconorth, that was über interesting!
I like with the changes. Good call Jon!
It's a gorgeous song. The only thing is that it makes me feel scared. I hope I never break up with my beautiful man...for I'd have to leave the country.
:P