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.
I never thought that this is where I'd settle down
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown
They gave me this plot of land
Me and some other men, for a job well-done
There's a big white house
Sits on a hill just up the road
The man inside
He cried the day they brought me home
They folded up a flag and told my mom and dad
We're proud of your son
And I'm proud to be
On this peaceful piece of property
I'm on sacred ground
And I'm in the best of company
I'm thankful for those thankful
For the things I've done
I can rest in peace
I'm one of the chosen ones
I made it to Arlington
I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight
We searched all day
To find out where my grand-dad lay
When we finally found that cross
He said, "Son this is what it costs
To keep us free"
Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him
He recognized me on the first day I came in
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels
And saluted me
And I'm proud to be
On this peaceful piece of property
I'm on sacred ground
And I'm in the best of company
I'm thankful for those thankful
For the things I've done
I can rest in peace
I'm one of the chosen ones
I made it to Arlington
And every time I hear twenty-one guns
I know they brought another hero home to us
We're thankful for those thankful
For the things we've done
We can rest in peace
'Cause we are the chosen ones
We made it to Arlington
Yeah, dust to dust
Don't cry for us
We made it to Arlington
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown
They gave me this plot of land
Me and some other men, for a job well-done
There's a big white house
Sits on a hill just up the road
The man inside
He cried the day they brought me home
They folded up a flag and told my mom and dad
We're proud of your son
And I'm proud to be
On this peaceful piece of property
I'm on sacred ground
And I'm in the best of company
I'm thankful for those thankful
For the things I've done
I can rest in peace
I'm one of the chosen ones
I made it to Arlington
I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight
We searched all day
To find out where my grand-dad lay
When we finally found that cross
He said, "Son this is what it costs
To keep us free"
Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him
He recognized me on the first day I came in
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels
And saluted me
And I'm proud to be
On this peaceful piece of property
I'm on sacred ground
And I'm in the best of company
I'm thankful for those thankful
For the things I've done
I can rest in peace
I'm one of the chosen ones
I made it to Arlington
And every time I hear twenty-one guns
I know they brought another hero home to us
We're thankful for those thankful
For the things we've done
We can rest in peace
'Cause we are the chosen ones
We made it to Arlington
Yeah, dust to dust
Don't cry for us
We made it to Arlington
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this song reminds me of my cousin, brad. he was killed in iraq in august and he's buried in Arlington. every time i hear this song i think about him.