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.
a cat came drifting, on my porch from the outside cold,
and with eyes closed drinking, warm milk from my bowl, thought:
nobody hears me (x2)
'cause I crept in so soft
and nobody sees me
nobody sees me
as I watched six steps off,
like, the peacocks wandering,
the walkways of the zoo
who have twice the autonomy
the giraffes and the tigers do, saying:
no one can stop me (x2)
no one clips my claws
now everyone watch me
everyone watch me
scale these outside walls
oh, you pious and profane,
put away your praise and blame,
"a glass can only spill what it contains"
To the perpetually plain and the incurably inane
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this?
what blessed backwardness?
the Immeasurable One is held and does not resist!
struck by wicked words and foolish fists of senseless men
the Almighty One does not defend!
I was halfway listening, to what she thinks she knows,
We're like children dressing, in our parents' clothes, saying:
Nobody knows me, (x2)
No one knows my name,
Nobody knows me (x2)
(nobody knows me)
I half-heartedly explained
but gave up peacefully ashamed
as a glass can only spill what it contains
we went to Portugal and Spain
and in her mind the entire time it rained!
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this? overflowing emptiness
the Invisible is seen among the shadows and the mist,
before my doubting eyes the Infinite appears in time -
the Unquestionable is question but makes no reply!
what new mystery is this?! (x5)
"my Rabbi!"
my lips betray with a kiss
what new mystery is this?
and with eyes closed drinking, warm milk from my bowl, thought:
nobody hears me (x2)
'cause I crept in so soft
and nobody sees me
nobody sees me
as I watched six steps off,
like, the peacocks wandering,
the walkways of the zoo
who have twice the autonomy
the giraffes and the tigers do, saying:
no one can stop me (x2)
no one clips my claws
now everyone watch me
everyone watch me
scale these outside walls
oh, you pious and profane,
put away your praise and blame,
"a glass can only spill what it contains"
To the perpetually plain and the incurably inane
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this?
what blessed backwardness?
the Immeasurable One is held and does not resist!
struck by wicked words and foolish fists of senseless men
the Almighty One does not defend!
I was halfway listening, to what she thinks she knows,
We're like children dressing, in our parents' clothes, saying:
Nobody knows me, (x2)
No one knows my name,
Nobody knows me (x2)
(nobody knows me)
I half-heartedly explained
but gave up peacefully ashamed
as a glass can only spill what it contains
we went to Portugal and Spain
and in her mind the entire time it rained!
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this? overflowing emptiness
the Invisible is seen among the shadows and the mist,
before my doubting eyes the Infinite appears in time -
the Unquestionable is question but makes no reply!
what new mystery is this?! (x5)
"my Rabbi!"
my lips betray with a kiss
what new mystery is this?
Lyrics submitted by Fat Kid With Asthma, edited by Numbzie
A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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aaron said that the cat with eyes closed drinking milk metaphor was referring to how we think we can sin and stuff because no one sees us, yet God still sees us, so we're really not hiding from anyone.
aaron also brought in the allusions to Christs death. I'm guessing that he was trying to show a contrast between us and Christ, in that we try to hide our sin, and Christ died for that sin. he ties it together at the end too, "my lips betray with a kiss!"
although we know Christ died to take away our sin, we continue in it, and we betray Him every time we sin.
my $.02