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.
Through the marshes
And through the flittering glades
Through the corn
And through the scything fields
The summer sun
She dances and rages
The summer sun
Flies burning into the light
Who will die for the death of the corn?
And who shall cry at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
The sleeping giant awakes
He circles into circling
The wild wild hunt
Dawn dies at dusk
And dolly banners are raised
For the death of the corn
They're sealed and shining
With the true love knot
And who will cry for the death of the corn?
And who shall lie at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
Shifting the shapes
That bleed the mountains
You tear apart my body
Though the corn king dies
He dies has died
And dying still
He shall rise again
And sink back into earth
And who shall cry at the death of the corn?
And who shall lie at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
Rise rise rise
Rise rise rise
The true love knot is found at the death of the corn
The true love knot is crowned at the death of the corn
The true love knot is found at the death of the corn
The true love knot is crowned in the death of the corn
The true love knot is found in the death of the corn
And the true love knot is found in the death of the corn
And through the flittering glades
Through the corn
And through the scything fields
The summer sun
She dances and rages
The summer sun
Flies burning into the light
Who will die for the death of the corn?
And who shall cry at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
The sleeping giant awakes
He circles into circling
The wild wild hunt
Dawn dies at dusk
And dolly banners are raised
For the death of the corn
They're sealed and shining
With the true love knot
And who will cry for the death of the corn?
And who shall lie at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
Shifting the shapes
That bleed the mountains
You tear apart my body
Though the corn king dies
He dies has died
And dying still
He shall rise again
And sink back into earth
And who shall cry at the death of the corn?
And who shall lie at the death of the corn?
Rise rise rise
Rise rise rise
Rise rise rise
The true love knot is found at the death of the corn
The true love knot is crowned at the death of the corn
The true love knot is found at the death of the corn
The true love knot is crowned in the death of the corn
The true love knot is found in the death of the corn
And the true love knot is found in the death of the corn
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.