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.
if anyone was headed for the gates of hell i knew you'd be first
i used to picture your obituary and i wished you the worst
the danger of the playground
the radio said you drowned
and i'm sorry
almost
almost sorry
no sympathy is given to the perpetrator charged with the crime
im willing to admit that it feels good to be a victim sometimes
and i wont ever get to thank you for the terrible things you said
'cause i'm sorry
almost
that you're dead to the world
where i hoped you would be
never imagined you'd live on in me
you gave me destination but i paid for the ride
the place you punched my ticket left a crater inside
where i cried (he cried)
where i cried (you died)
where i cried from the bruises
learned to live with the scars
now you live in the mirror
when i look there you are
you're the shadow on the faces of the ppl i meet
have you claimed eternal shotgun in my passenger seat
well i'm sorry
almost
almost sorry
sometimes the best design is done by damage
the accident can cease
the rainbow still looks pretty when it bleeds
i used to picture your obituary and i wished you the worst
the danger of the playground
the radio said you drowned
and i'm sorry
almost
almost sorry
no sympathy is given to the perpetrator charged with the crime
im willing to admit that it feels good to be a victim sometimes
and i wont ever get to thank you for the terrible things you said
'cause i'm sorry
almost
that you're dead to the world
where i hoped you would be
never imagined you'd live on in me
you gave me destination but i paid for the ride
the place you punched my ticket left a crater inside
where i cried (he cried)
where i cried (you died)
where i cried from the bruises
learned to live with the scars
now you live in the mirror
when i look there you are
you're the shadow on the faces of the ppl i meet
have you claimed eternal shotgun in my passenger seat
well i'm sorry
almost
almost sorry
sometimes the best design is done by damage
the accident can cease
the rainbow still looks pretty when it bleeds
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Yes it is indeed about how he was bullied when he was young and then found out the bully died and he wasnt really sad becuase it was his enemy but also was kinda sad because the bully inadvertantly taught him lessons and helped shape his life.
I'm really confused at this song, I don't know, but the first impression that I got was some sort of child abuse or something, I hope I'm terribly wrong.
I don't think it's so much child abuse from parents/adults so much as bullying. To me, it's an ode to previous bullies or tormentors, a more in depth way of putting forth the concept suggested by the quote (I believe it was Andrew Carnegie?) that "The strongest steel must go through the fire." In other words, the past experiences, awful as they were, helped shape the person into what they are today, a product they seem pleased with ("sometimes the best designs are done by damage"). Though the person will always carry the hard memories with him ("Never imagined you'd live on in me") it's actually a positive, if bittersweet, song.
This song is from the perspective of someone whose raison d'être is the feud with a longtime arch rival who has died unexpectedly. The enemy has given the singer notoriety (in that no-press-is-bad-press sense) through insults and vicious barbs, ironically leaving the singer feeling a void, instead of triumph, in the enemy's sudden demise. Furthermore, being the first of the two to die, the enemy has upstaged the singer, because people tend to reflect fondly on (and avoid speaking ill of) the dead. As the survivor of the two, the singer is going to be saddled with this idealized image of the rival.
See also "frenemy" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenemy
I thought it was about an abusive relationship. But bullying could fit too