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 can't stand it when you tell our infant son
That he was born beneath a bad sign
And I can't stand it when he smiles up at you
Just because you're his mother
And I can't stand the bitter thing that I've become
Between the four walls that hold up our ceiling
And I wonder when the house gets real quiet
Who between us will be the first one to give into the feeling
And I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do
I can't stand it when you put the boy to bed
And you sing him those songs I used to sing to you
Yeah, I can't stand to hear you sing those songs
When you know you don't mean them
And I can't stand the way my body still remembers
How much we used to mean to one another way back when
And I can't stand going back to seek the shelter of your arms
And then I can't stand it again
And I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do
That he was born beneath a bad sign
And I can't stand it when he smiles up at you
Just because you're his mother
And I can't stand the bitter thing that I've become
Between the four walls that hold up our ceiling
And I wonder when the house gets real quiet
Who between us will be the first one to give into the feeling
And I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do
I can't stand it when you put the boy to bed
And you sing him those songs I used to sing to you
Yeah, I can't stand to hear you sing those songs
When you know you don't mean them
And I can't stand the way my body still remembers
How much we used to mean to one another way back when
And I can't stand going back to seek the shelter of your arms
And then I can't stand it again
And I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do
Lyrics submitted by shewouldnt, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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