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.
It's been long since dark
Sitting here bathed in the moonshade
Underneath a willow'tree
To stare above, the sky is burning
The diamonds dance in nocturnal symphony
What does it mean? How do I fit into the scheme?
Why is there dark sky above, what does it veil?
Is there a purpose to the point
Beyond the norm we hail?
Reflecting on my future to come
Underneath the crescent moon
Long since dark, and my thoughts are flowing
And deeper still, beyond the cloak of unknown
Relentless drone, why was I put here, left alone?
Why do I hunger to know what will I gain?
Is there true wisdom without end
Or will I find just pain?
How many times do we take for granted
Simple things that make life sweet
Enraptured by material longings
We miss the point, we need to know, to see
Beyond your being, and in the void lies the meaning
Just as the dark sky above had spoke to me
The answer came so clear, then vanished
For a moment I was free
I am free
Sitting here bathed in the moonshade
Underneath a willow'tree
To stare above, the sky is burning
The diamonds dance in nocturnal symphony
What does it mean? How do I fit into the scheme?
Why is there dark sky above, what does it veil?
Is there a purpose to the point
Beyond the norm we hail?
Reflecting on my future to come
Underneath the crescent moon
Long since dark, and my thoughts are flowing
And deeper still, beyond the cloak of unknown
Relentless drone, why was I put here, left alone?
Why do I hunger to know what will I gain?
Is there true wisdom without end
Or will I find just pain?
How many times do we take for granted
Simple things that make life sweet
Enraptured by material longings
We miss the point, we need to know, to see
Beyond your being, and in the void lies the meaning
Just as the dark sky above had spoke to me
The answer came so clear, then vanished
For a moment I was free
I am free
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
In case you didn't notice, (L)ong (S)ince (D)ark is about psychedelic drug use, and the theory that it will open your mind to broader horizons. Specifically the protagonist is attempting to use the drug to find the meaning of his existence, and "just as the dark sky above had spoke", he seemed to have the answer, and in that brief moment he was free of all worldly concerns....but then it all came to a crashing end, and the secret slipped away.
The lyrics don't really sound like the protagonist had used a psychedelic drug to try and open his mind, just that he was questioning his existance in the universe.
Though I wouldn't be too surprised if it were about use of LSD as that seems to be a popular theme in many of Warrel Dane's earlier songs.
Yep, with the reference to diamonds in the sky - (L)ucy in the (S)ky with (D)iamonds - confirms this. That song title, along with this one, is also namechecked in Nevermore's This Sacrament!