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.
True about my taste; true about my wealth.
The thing about St. Petersburg:
I was never there myself, so come on.
Anastasia might have cried all night, I couldn't say myself,
So come on, yeah, come on.
I appreciate your courtesy,
Your well-learned politesse,
But you got yourself into your own mess.
You know the demon's in the design:
A good idea at the time.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Yeah, seemed like a good idea at the time.
Now how it all went down, only Pilate knows.
All I ever asked of him is when the bars would close, so come on.
Yeah, come on.
Oh, I appreciate your courtesy,
Your well-learned politesse,
But you got yourself into your own mess.
You know the demon's in the design:
A good idea at the time.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Yeah, seemed like a good idea at the time.
Now what you gonna do about it?
Now, it's true about my wealth, and true about my taste,
But you don't need no help from me,
You'll lay yourself to waste.
So come on.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
The thing about St. Petersburg:
I was never there myself, so come on.
Anastasia might have cried all night, I couldn't say myself,
So come on, yeah, come on.
I appreciate your courtesy,
Your well-learned politesse,
But you got yourself into your own mess.
You know the demon's in the design:
A good idea at the time.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Yeah, seemed like a good idea at the time.
Now how it all went down, only Pilate knows.
All I ever asked of him is when the bars would close, so come on.
Yeah, come on.
Oh, I appreciate your courtesy,
Your well-learned politesse,
But you got yourself into your own mess.
You know the demon's in the design:
A good idea at the time.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Yeah, seemed like a good idea at the time.
Now what you gonna do about it?
Now, it's true about my wealth, and true about my taste,
But you don't need no help from me,
You'll lay yourself to waste.
So come on.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
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Like someone mentioned, think Sympathy for the Devil by Rolling Stones. It's pretty much a straightup tribute to that song.
"I was around Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate"
"Stuck around St. Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change Killed the Tzar and his ministers; Anastaria screamed in vain"
"Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste"
"So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste Use all your well-learned politesse Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah"
These are all quotes from Sympathy for the Devil which are mirrored in "A Good Idea at the Time."
If you want to be philosophical about it, it's about doing something stupid and then blaming someone (or a concept) for it, when actually you're the only person to blame.
Hmm...this song confuses me deeply. It's a shame no one else has commented on this to give me a little more insight.
yeah. i have no idea what this song means. but i'm not sure it's really supposed to mean anything. just a catchy little tune? no clue.
think rolling stones - symapthy for the devil, hes talking from the devils point of view to a person looking to him for help out of a problem
To me it always came off as a "don't look to me for help; you're asking nicely but its something you brought on yourself" I like his tone in it. "Anastasia might've cried all night; I couldn't say myself." He's talking about a girl, likely mocking her emotions and admitting he had nothing to do with it. Same with "Now how it all went down, only Pilate knows. All I ever asked of him is when the bars would close" Just because the narrator's associated with a person doesn't mean he has to know all about their lives. It's kind of like someone blaming him for something, and he's swearing innocence through disinvolvement.
If anyone knows more about WHY they chose Pilate and Anastasia, though, do comment.
Ditto what Solario said.
Also, 'Anastasia' isn't just some girl. Anastasia was the daughter of the Russian czar, who went missing after the rest of her family were killed in the Bolshevik revolution.
Here's a quote from Damian Kulash, who wrote the song, taken from an OK Go forum:
"the whole song is a response to sypathy for the devil. the stones' devil is responsible for all evil. our devil is just another bystander as people fuck everything up themselves."