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.
It was alright that I had it wrong.
I just assumed we were further along.
But somewhere an ocean
Rains from a storm that is slow and strong.
I'm just a tree and you are the wind.
When you walk by my leaves rustle again.
Somewhere a summer
Waits in the shadows of lost and found.
I was alright to be on my own
With no one there to hold onto.
I was so glad to be on my own
But it's so hard to hold onto.
I was alright to be on my own
With no one there to hold onto.
I was so glad to be on my own
But it's so hard to hold onto.
I just assumed we were further along.
But somewhere an ocean
Rains from a storm that is slow and strong.
I'm just a tree and you are the wind.
When you walk by my leaves rustle again.
Somewhere a summer
Waits in the shadows of lost and found.
I was alright to be on my own
With no one there to hold onto.
I was so glad to be on my own
But it's so hard to hold onto.
I was alright to be on my own
With no one there to hold onto.
I was so glad to be on my own
But it's so hard to hold onto.
Lyrics submitted by Bravura
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
Why have I never heard this song?! I love the lyrics.
I think this song is about someone who has too much control over you - "I'm just a tree and you are the wind. " - and learning to let go of them, even if it's hard to be on your own for a while. That's just my interpretation... I could be really far off.
Song meanings are to be found in refrains. The refrain here talks about about being "so glad to be on my own" and talking about how that's "so hard to hold on to."
The narrator is mourning his single status and the freedom that came with it. Summer, which represents freedom and happiness, "waits in the shadows of lost and found," meaning that he misses his lost freedom, but it's reclaimable at a cost, "shadows" or sadness being the cost. But during summer, times of happiness and freedom, is the time that he finds it easy to establishes a relationship. "It's so hard to hold onto" refers to the overwhelming urge to couple up when single.
The narrator remembers freedom fondly, but most past memories are colored by time's passage.
The "ocean [that] rains from a storm that is slow and strong" represents his girlfriend. The storm that is "slow and strong" refers to the slow but intense process of falling out of love.
I also love this song and can't believe that, as a fan of Guster since 2000, it took me so long to find the Pasty Tapes. I love and miss Joe, who I'm glad to finally hear in a lead role. Wish he were still with the group...
The song also channels Tom Petty, in my opinion, and I love the instrumental ending. Should have been on Keep It Together, but I'm glad to have it for free!