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.
Oh you sad one
Playing the Angel
Isn't so easy where you're from
Oh you wild one
Devil's companion
You won't stay satisfied for long
I don't want you to change anything you do
I don't want you to be someone else for me
Oh you dark one
Eternal outsider
Caught in the spider's web you've spun
Oh you blind one
Gentle and kind one
Seeing the world as a loaded gun
I don't want you to change anything you do
I don't want you to be someone else for me
Stay as you are, the Darkest Star
Shining for me majestically
Playing the Angel
Isn't so easy where you're from
Oh you wild one
Devil's companion
You won't stay satisfied for long
I don't want you to change anything you do
I don't want you to be someone else for me
Oh you dark one
Eternal outsider
Caught in the spider's web you've spun
Oh you blind one
Gentle and kind one
Seeing the world as a loaded gun
I don't want you to change anything you do
I don't want you to be someone else for me
Stay as you are, the Darkest Star
Shining for me majestically
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verse 1-3 : This might be referring to the fact that most people are miserable and sad in there lifes and they try to act like saintly people "playing the angel", and also when he says its easy, he probably means that it is easier to wear a false mask then be your real you.
verse 4-6 : Might be referring to people trying to be satisfied doing "bad" things for satisfaction like drugs,stealing,violence etc, and this might be in reference to Dave's addiction and he himself knowing that the drugs didnt satisfy him for long.
verse 7-8 : He wants people to remain as they are without them being someone else, like wearing a mask and being false as most people do.
verse 9-11 : Oh you dark one, eternal outsider, this might be the first reference to someone who is really being as who he is, but since he is being a real person he has been caught in society's web to destroy his individuality and he keeps spinning in it without any direction since he is who he is.
verse 12-14 : This part is contradictory, it might be a subtle way to show peoples contradictory nature which is, people being blind to reality and thus acting kind and gentle when really seeing the world in a different point of view. Probably meaning that they are acting just to fit in and not be harmed by society since they know its a "loaded gun".
verse 15-16 : same as 7 and 8
verse 17-19 : stay as you are your real you, even if you are dark and not being accepted by most of the people but you will be accepted by people who prefer to show there individuality and be themselves and there shining nature only shines for people who see that they are real and not people wearing false masks to hide there nature.
verse 20-21: same as 7 and 8