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.
Having spent your entire life
Exactly where you are tonight
In the valley between intent and deed
You must have mastered this
The fragile art of a good excuse
The little things that get you too blue
That get you too blue
So listen, I'm not trying to prove anything at all here
But don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
You've spent your entire life
Quick-tounged, and always right
Hasn't being right just let you down?
Right just left you down
So listen, I'm not trying to say anything at all here
There isn't much left anyway that hasn't been said
But don't you think that possibly, this time, its different?
Don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
So listen, I'm not trying to say anything, at all here
There isn't much left anyway that hasn't been said
But don't you think that possibly, this time, its different?
Don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
Exactly where you are tonight
In the valley between intent and deed
You must have mastered this
The fragile art of a good excuse
The little things that get you too blue
That get you too blue
So listen, I'm not trying to prove anything at all here
But don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
You've spent your entire life
Quick-tounged, and always right
Hasn't being right just let you down?
Right just left you down
So listen, I'm not trying to say anything at all here
There isn't much left anyway that hasn't been said
But don't you think that possibly, this time, its different?
Don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
So listen, I'm not trying to say anything, at all here
There isn't much left anyway that hasn't been said
But don't you think that possibly, this time, its different?
Don't you think that maybe, this time, you were wrong?
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More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Good lord. This song is permanently stuck in my head as a conversation from Wilson to House in "House, M.D."
Especially from the first few episodes of the third season where Wilson and Cuddy conspire to humble House, telling him is diagnosis was wrong when it wasn't... The whole song just sounds like Wilson trying to convince House he got the wrong treatment. "Don't you think that, possibly, this time, it's different? Don't you think that, maybe, this time, you were wrong?"
And the "I'm not trying to prove/say anything at all here" as Wilson's trying to soften the blow. I think he said something along the lines of "It doesn't hurt to be wrong sometimes, you're still a great doctor." while House rages that his diagnosis couldn't have possibly been wrong...
OH AND (I'm just getting on a roll here sorry) "Having spent your entire life Exactly where you are tonight In the valley between intent and deed" House attempts suicide about halfway through season 3, but fails and is left half-conscious on his floor by Wilson. Also there are several other instances where it seems like he can't muster the will to turn his intentions into actions. (Or vice-versa where his actions have nothing to do with good or sound intention.) PERFECT FIT #1.
And then... "You must have mastered this The fragile art of a good excuse The little things that get you to believe that get you to believe" House is always making excuses for his actions, 'the ends justify the means' kind of things. The "detox" episode shows how he constantly uses his damaged leg as an excuse for his vicodin addiction, trying to get himself to believe that his entire life was ruined by the injury and none of his misery can possibly be his own fault. This of course leads Wilson to say "And everything's the leg? Nothing's the pills?" to which House scoffs. .... PERFECT FIT #2.
Lastly: "You’ve spent your entire life Quick-tounged, and always right Hasn’t being right just let you down? right just left you down" And of course this one's easy. House, the master of sarcasm and wit, has indeed spent his life quick-tongued and always right, (which is actually why Cuddy and Wilson want to humble him with a 'wrong' diagnosis in the first place, House is starting to think he's god.) And the "right just lets/left you down" line always seemed to me to be all the instances of House preaching about human nature, how "everybody lies" and nobody ever does anything selflessly; and he's usually right, which just leaves him angrier and more miserable than before. Which means this is... PERFECT FIT #3
And that is why I get the urge to break out the House DVDs every time I hear this great song... And yes, I know. I'm total nerd. ;)