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.
Hand over hand up the lifeline, luckily the knots stay tight.
Silhouettes of the two of us climbing,
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Trapped in a room in a fortress,
Running outta air to breathe.
Only seconds to go and we'll break free,
I didn't think that we would reach.
Only the two of us can disconnect the bomb.
And save ourselves before the oxygen is gone.
I'll call for backup, you start to scream.
It's not the first time we've been in this dream.
She ripped the wings right off my back.
She whispered deep, keep it on the track.
She said you're no angel, no angel anymore.
All the wheels are coming loose.
Close-up shot of a burning fuse.
The sky is filled with question marks.
Will the chains come apart?
These few seconds that I've left to go.
Flames and chaos down below.
And the earth opens wide.
Got to climb a rope on fire.
Look at the clock. Look at the clock.
Make it to the car but the car won't start.
Me try to move the car but there's no more time.
We'll have to climb a rope on fire.
Hand over hand up the lifeline,
Luckily the knots stay tight.
Silhouettes of the two of us climbing,
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Only the two of us can disconnect the bomb.
Then save ourselves before the oxygen is gone.
I'll call for backup. You start to scream.
It's not the first time we've been in this dream.
Silhouettes of the two of us climbing,
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Trapped in a room in a fortress,
Running outta air to breathe.
Only seconds to go and we'll break free,
I didn't think that we would reach.
Only the two of us can disconnect the bomb.
And save ourselves before the oxygen is gone.
I'll call for backup, you start to scream.
It's not the first time we've been in this dream.
She ripped the wings right off my back.
She whispered deep, keep it on the track.
She said you're no angel, no angel anymore.
All the wheels are coming loose.
Close-up shot of a burning fuse.
The sky is filled with question marks.
Will the chains come apart?
These few seconds that I've left to go.
Flames and chaos down below.
And the earth opens wide.
Got to climb a rope on fire.
Look at the clock. Look at the clock.
Make it to the car but the car won't start.
Me try to move the car but there's no more time.
We'll have to climb a rope on fire.
Hand over hand up the lifeline,
Luckily the knots stay tight.
Silhouettes of the two of us climbing,
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Climbing up a rope on fire.
Only the two of us can disconnect the bomb.
Then save ourselves before the oxygen is gone.
I'll call for backup. You start to scream.
It's not the first time we've been in this dream.
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Many interpretations that's why this song is sooooo good. For me, it's about passion, maybe something that's not completely "by the book", hence the ripped wings and no angel... And this eastern sound, definitly adds to the meaning of doing something out of the ordinary...
I think this is one the best song Sandman ever wrote. Too bad this is one of the last one's too, makes me kind of sentimental thinking that this genious work will never be appreciated.
This song could actually work as some kind of action movie, allthough that might not have been quite what Mark had in mind.. It could be a statement saying that two spefific persons are so ment for each other that only they could live perfectly together, this seen from one's side of view. "She rippet the wings right off my back, she said you're no angel, no angel anymore" could indicate that the other part doesn't really feel the same way about the other person as he does about himself, which is backed up by the last sentence in the chorus; "It's not the first time we've been in this dream."
So I think it wouldn't be wrong to say that this is a love-gone-bad story either.. but I don't think this is the actual meaning of the song either, as it has a lot of "storylines" which doesn't fit in with this love gone bad concept.