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.
On the black rock is where I spend my time
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
Sometimes, I just look around
Taking the feeling coming out from the ground
That's just something I do sometimes
And then I just come out the door
Taking the wind coming off of the shore
And that's just what I'm doing tonight
On the black rock is where I spend my time
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
When you are on your own
Not speaking out is like fighting alone
And that is the worst damn way to fight
And when you are scared no more
You reach your hand out and just open the door
And that's just what I'm doing tonight
On the black rock is where I spend my time
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
Sometimes, I just look around
Taking the feeling coming out from the ground
That's just something I do sometimes
And then I just come out the door
Taking the wind coming off of the shore
And that's just what I'm doing tonight
On the black rock is where I spend my time
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
When you are on your own
Not speaking out is like fighting alone
And that is the worst damn way to fight
And when you are scared no more
You reach your hand out and just open the door
And that's just what I'm doing tonight
On the black rock is where I spend my time
Writing a memory or writing a rhyme
Thinking about what is right or wrong
On the black rock is where I like to go
After a long night comin' home from the show
That's where I write my song all day long
The black rock
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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.
Obviously (as stated before) black rock is a metaphor for a place we can relax, ease our troubles, and clear our minds. The added bit from this live version helps express it.
Before someone asks, yes, Mark really does say "wisdom he spoked", and other lines that seem incorrect.
Anyway, the sit learn and create part is awesome.
normally marc says "wisdom he smoked" not spoked, but yea he accidently says spoked in this version
wisdom he smoked knowledge he breathed
I love this song. You really feel what he is saying at the end. And it's a great message too, one of love that O.A.R. preaches a lot.
"I wish the world was run by love, Absolutely nothing more."
Great line, amazing song.
after he finishes singing the lyrics to the original version, i love how he adds merely a short story of an old man named "Time" sitting on a black rock. This is where it means the most to me, because time helps you ease the pain, and the old man on his black rock did just that to the artist.
top three on my favorites list for sure. the added part in this live version really speaks for itself, no interpretation really necessary. just listen to it and let it speak to you, marc's really got a powerful way with words. cant wait to go see these guys the 21st at the warfield.
This song is about smoking marijuana. Black Rock is a street term for marijuana.
"On the black rock is where i spend my time writing a memory or writing a rhyme thinking about what is right or wrong On the black rock is where i like to go After a long night comin home from the show thats where i write my songs on and on the black rock"
He writes his songs high and he likes getting high after shows, he goes to the Black Rock.
I'd like to add one more thing, if you dont agree, just wow. And there are good messages in the song, but this song, I'm 99% sure, it's about smoking marijuana. Hence the "wisdom he smoked" and the "I wish the world was run by love, absolutely nothing more." I don't know if you keep up with marijuana smokers, but they wish the world was ran by love.
Another thing, O.A.R. ROCKS I FUCKIN LOVE O.A.R. YESSS.
If you listen to the whole 34 and 8th album, at the end of so moved on Roberge says that the Black Rock is a place back where the bands from that was there hang out, so its not a metaphor for any for any place or thing its an actual place in there hometown of rockville, maryland, hence the parts " all day long, the black rock, maryland" and "all day long, the blck rock, montgomery county"