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.
If I run uphill I'm out of breath
If I spend all my money I've got no money left
If I place all my chips on only one bet
I'm all in
And it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your all might
But I might as well
As insurance or bail
'cause institution's like a big bright lie
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and god
But what if god's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare
For the evangelist, the communist, the lefts and the rights
And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites
In the belly of the beast
In the atlanta streets
Or up in laurel canyon
The middle east
Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again
It's been twenty-five years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected
So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing bob dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the atlanta streets
In the belly of the beast
If I spend all my money I've got no money left
If I place all my chips on only one bet
I'm all in
And it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your all might
But I might as well
As insurance or bail
'cause institution's like a big bright lie
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and god
But what if god's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare
For the evangelist, the communist, the lefts and the rights
And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites
In the belly of the beast
In the atlanta streets
Or up in laurel canyon
The middle east
Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again
It's been twenty-five years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected
So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing bob dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the atlanta streets
In the belly of the beast
Lyrics submitted by y plus white girl
The Charging Sky Lyrics as written by Jenny Diane Lewis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think its talking about how faith's become a just in case thing. "ill pray and go to church just enough to get me into heaven, in case god really does exist"
and faith isnt faith, its just insurance.