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.
When we hid out behind the risers at the high school
Working bitter calculations with a slide rule
The grim particulars of poisoning the swimming pool
The way you looked me in the eye, ready to die
We were becoming what we are
Collapsing stars
When we chewed up Baby Aspirin like bubblegum
Till our hearts were beating deep and rich as kettle drums
We knew if we waited long enough the change would come
And then the day did come, and at last
Hold tight
Hold fast
Catch lightning in a jar
Collapsing stars
I told you to load up on provisions
Cuz' we wouldn't be back for a while
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
Turn toward the camera and smile, smile, smile
When we ditched the plan to poison all our enemies
Stuffed our weapons in a clearing, and covered them with leaves
We are gonna come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaths one day
Well we are on our way
You can look
But you won't find
Another love like ours
Collapsing stars
Working bitter calculations with a slide rule
The grim particulars of poisoning the swimming pool
The way you looked me in the eye, ready to die
We were becoming what we are
Collapsing stars
When we chewed up Baby Aspirin like bubblegum
Till our hearts were beating deep and rich as kettle drums
We knew if we waited long enough the change would come
And then the day did come, and at last
Hold tight
Hold fast
Catch lightning in a jar
Collapsing stars
I told you to load up on provisions
Cuz' we wouldn't be back for a while
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
Turn toward the camera and smile, smile, smile
When we ditched the plan to poison all our enemies
Stuffed our weapons in a clearing, and covered them with leaves
We are gonna come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaths one day
Well we are on our way
You can look
But you won't find
Another love like ours
Collapsing stars
Lyrics submitted by my anaphora, edited by CollapsingStar
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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.
He says Baby Aspirin in the version from Come Come to the Sunset Tree and Pseudoephedrine on the Dilaudid single. Also "Bringing in the Sheaves" is an allusion to an old hymn, and "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile Smile Smile" is a song from the Thirties.
Not entirely sure what this song's about. It appears to be a "standard bitter love song" ; ) but I dunno if that's too literal.
Great metaphor though.
I believe this song is actually about his own life, it was set to appear on The Sunset Tree, and it actually appears as a b-side on one of that album's singles. He said that his wife loved it, but it just didn't make it onto the record.
This could be one of the "Star" songs (e.g. Stars Fell on Alabama, New Star Song, Stars Around Her). That series is about spending time with a significant other or beloved.
Or maybe not because it's autobiographical, but it would make sense.
i dont know if its just me, or my version of this song, but im sure darnielle sings "when we chewed up pseudoephedrine" it doesnt make much difference i know but i really love that line like that.
@J.Parrett It kind of does make a difference really, pseudoephedrine is actually sort of a drug (albeit weak and dangerous) whereas Baby Aspirin makes a lot less sense.
I live in Asia and so I haven't heard this song yet. Lyrics look interesting, though. As do other Mountain Goats lyrics themountaingoats.net/lyrics/comecome_lyr.html
Saw the Tiny Desk Concert of Mountaineer Goat John Darnielle over at npr.org/templates/story/story.php Postmodernist yet appealing and lively.
Landed here, though, via another Collapsing Star song: "thoughts of collapsing stars" glasgow's richard youngs' "valley of the ultrahits" is.gd/5N9kq
See also 1977 report on collapsing stars of Orion jstor.org/pss/3962115