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Song of Our So-Called Friend Lyrics
Remember when our so-called friend would not call out to you while tumbling loosely out a hole punched through your home? It’s pretty clear, though you could hear, you truly finally knew, in time, he’d tell his tale the way he’d like it told. Now he isn’t on the phone, and his story might as well be so.
Well, loving is as loving does, and I’d say we should know, because we both have loved, have lost, and are alone. Your face’s falling tears, to me they’re lovely and they’re dear, though you don’t love me and it’s clear that I will never see you in my arms. There’s no room in your heart for even this finely-sharpened dart; although I had started to think there might be hope, it isn’t so.
So wake up, make up some new song again around the same tune. The water cools, the leaves they fall, the sun it bends, the summer ends; our so-called friend doesn’t need you.
So proceed out the door and down the street. December’s lying near, but in the oven’s heat this house is now a home. Sixty days of trips and stays you took to tell me, dear, that you cannot love me because you secretly still love a stone. Although I put my lips to your face, trying to push his kiss out of its place, although my heart started to race, now it has slowed, I’ll let it go.
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I think Sheff's songs resist easy "meaning". All of you sound right, but sometimes his songs are dominated by language itself, not its meaning. The opening line alone is proof of that.
I agree with you 100%.
I agree with you 100%.
Do you ever feel guilty while listening to this CD? It's like reading another's email or journal. The lyrics are very personal and intimate. You know what you're doing is wrong, but you can't tear your eyes away.
this song's about unrequited love. he's digging this girl who is still attached to someone else. the guy goes and visits her all the time and she's only sort of receptive, and he decides its time to "wake up, make up some new song again" and realize that it's over.
this song is the story of my life.
i think we've all definitely been there...ive felt everything this man is singing about, this is genius and i want to have his okkervil river babies.
this song is about the pathetic lack of resistance some people feel when you're trying to detach your emotions from someone who is unreceptive and convientiently reaches for the so-called "friend" card. i love will's ruminations and self-encouragements.
a man died leaving his girlfriend and a friend, "we both have loved, have lost, and are alone". and they can't be together because she cannot forget about him "you secretly still love a stone" (as in headstone). the guy is trying to get her to see that it isnt worth it and she should move "So wake up, make up some new song again around the same tune", "the summer ends; our so-called friend doesn’t need you." sad all in all if you think of it that way. ciao
So proceed out the door and down the street. December’s lying near, but in the oven’s heat this house is now a home. Sixty days of trips and stays you took to tell me, dear, that you cannot love me because you secretly still love a stone. Although I put my lips to your face, trying to push his kiss out of its place, although my heart started to race, now it has slowed, I’ll let it go.
enough said.
will is a genius.
This song goes back to A Stone. It's the person who you fall in love with who in turns love someone else who will never love them. It's sort of cruel irony everyone loving someone who will never love them back. This song though seems to be about coming to terms with that seeing she will never love you back instead she still loves that guy who will never love her.
I absolutely agree with sternj, it's the language that makes this song what it is. It amazes me how clever and perfect each word fits in this song.
it's so simple. but so heavy at the same time.
it makes you appreciate what a powerful song can accomplish.