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.
I keep hearing you're concerned about my happiness.
All that thought you're giving me is conscience, I guess.
If I were walking in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none.
While you and your friends are worrying 'bout me, I'm having lots of fun.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town.
As long as I can dream, it's hard to slow this swinger down.
So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doing fine.
You can always find me here, having quite a time.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Well, it's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright.
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light.
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete.
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Don't tell me I've nothing to do.
All that thought you're giving me is conscience, I guess.
If I were walking in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none.
While you and your friends are worrying 'bout me, I'm having lots of fun.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town.
As long as I can dream, it's hard to slow this swinger down.
So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doing fine.
You can always find me here, having quite a time.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Well, it's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright.
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light.
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete.
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete.
Counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, counting flowers on the wall,
That don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.
Now, don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Don't tell me I've nothing to do.
Lyrics submitted by OpinionHead
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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.
People are trying to read way to much into this song. It's just a guy who's girl/wife left him & now he's depressed but trying to hide it from his ex.
Thank you, Ghostwatch, these other explanations are at best moronic. <br /> <br /> Heroin? Insane asylum? Wow, people, really?
I totally agree with both of you as far as the song's original intent. However, the lyrics are so depressing while being sung in such an upbeat manner, you can't help but to feel like the song itself is a little bit crazy. I think the other interpretations of it are also valid since the meaning is really in what the listener wants it to be and that is what makes this song so popular. Even if you take just the literal interpretation, I think we can relate to the state of near insanity we feel when you are in this situation, everyone has been there at one time or another.
Bless you, ghostwatch, for keeping this analysis on the ground. It's a just a torch song; a guy busted up and lonely since his girl left him and trying to let on that life is good anyway.<br /> Folks - you really have to read the lines before you go blind trying to read between 'em!
Bless you, ghostwatch, for keeping this analysis on the ground. It's a just a torch song; a guy busted up and lonely since his girl left him and trying to let on that life is good anyway.<br /> Folks - you really have to read the lines before you go blind trying to read between 'em!
.....I think it's actually about a guy saddened by a woman leaving him, but he doesn't want her to know and pretends to be all good and chippy but looks bad "I know I look a fright" it's so cheery yet the lyrics are of depression,
"I'm not accustomed to this light"
and he is also sad that he cannot go out to town
"Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town. As long as I can dream, it's hard to slow this swinger down"
but it's a ok....
InkTits, not every song we hear is about drugs
well i take the song literally just a guy who doesn't want to see a woman and doing everything else to avoid it
Lezgurl you are right it is about a scizophrenic stuck on a binge in his room you can read about it anywhere online. An old scizophrenic friend of mine used to sing it all the time when he'd go ooff his meds that's how we knew he was off of them :)
This song pretty much means that he'd rather stay at home doing nothing than spend time with the person he's singing to. (: Amazing song. I love it.
Anyone ever heard of agoraphobia?
"You can always find me here, having quite a time" never leaves the house
"Well, it's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright" Would make a lot of sense if he met this person outside his house...
"Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light. And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete" I could understand the light for a junkie, but the shoes?
Seems like the guy never leaves his room - hotel room or otherwise. It seems like he really doesn't like the outside and even fears it (as he actually states he looks scared).
That's just my explanation as to why he never leaves the house.. it is actually about an isolated man. "The song is a blackly humorous account of a strange man's isolated lifestyle and how he passes the time alone - including counting the number of flower patterns on the wallpaper" So apparently it is literal.
@Flashwc 10/10 its a shut-in. It took me one listen as a kid.<br /> Im glad someone on here figured it out, <br /> its hardly a riddle.
InkTit, when trying to decipher the meaning of lyrics, it might help to look at the song as a whole instead of one line. Nothing else in the song suggests drugs at all.
.....Flashwc, I never though of agoraphobia, which is a pretty good idea of it's meaning, my only thought is that "not accustomed to this light" would indicate that this is not a life he's led, and the same with "shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete" which is just as evident as the eyes, but I can see agoraphobia, I don't think he's (the singer/character) is "completely" isolated, as he is talking to someone, and the person shows concern or curiousity for at least asking him how he is and such, anyhow, that's that....
A friend told me this song is about masturbation, but I don't really agree. More likely it's just about doing nothing and wasting time, plain and simple, which I think almost any person can relate to. Maybe the hero of the song is a guy who is going through a particularly troubling (or just boring) part of his life, and it's driving him a little crazy. It's just about pointless activity, filling the hours and being in a weird state of peace with the process.