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.
ALL IS NUMB
C?mon drift away through fundamental boundaries
To find ourselves surrounding
The ones who?ve already gone and come back stronger
All is numb
I?ve been lost too long
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
All is numb
Yeah I?ve done you wrong
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
Here you?ll stay
Where lies are spread wide open
And ties are not so strong
That place you?ll never find me
I?ve already gone
{chorus}
I guess my thinking too much is what?s been fuckin? me up
It?s my own worst enemy, but
It will never own me?
Who am I kidding anyway?
{chorus}
C?mon drift away through fundamental boundaries
To find ourselves surrounding
The ones who?ve already gone and come back stronger
All is numb
I?ve been lost too long
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
All is numb
Yeah I?ve done you wrong
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
Here you?ll stay
Where lies are spread wide open
And ties are not so strong
That place you?ll never find me
I?ve already gone
{chorus}
I guess my thinking too much is what?s been fuckin? me up
It?s my own worst enemy, but
It will never own me?
Who am I kidding anyway?
{chorus}
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
personally i think this song is about the journey to enlightenment.
fundamental boundaries = the confines of our mind. the things we've learned along the way throughout life.
the people that reach enlightenment pretty much leave their bodies and once they come back to their body they've been strengthened by what they've experienced.
the chorus is talking about how numb and lifeless it may seem to be in your body, that until you reach enlightenment you do not control your destiny.
Here you'll stay Where lies are spread wide open And ties are not so strong That place you'll never find me I've already gone
the first line says most people will be in this body form for their whole life. there are lies all over the place, many that you cannot understand until you've reached this point. the world is not as snug as most people may think, one slip and its game over. and of course he doesn't like being in this world so he escapes somehow through what hes learned from enlightenment. hes already there.
now the last part.
this part is the key, it seems hes saying that thinking is what made him become more aware of everything which some people might not like, cause you see things that you were not trained (by society) to see. then he says its my own worst enemy then he turns around and says "but it will never own me" which is absolutely the key to enlightenment. thoughts cannot, most of the time, lead to enlightenment. so thinking probably made him feel like shit when he experienced this stuff.
"who am i kidding anyway?" doesn't even know why hes explaining this stuff. mostly because there aren't a lot of people who know about enlightenment.
i can see the idea that this is about a relationship and most likely it is. i just think that people tend to relate to songs differently based on what has happened so far in their life. and i for one have experienced most of what i just said, which is the only reason it came to mind. that's enough out of me :x