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.
I don't understand the pain
I just don't feel quite the same
Whether you're here to walk away
Or if you're here so you can stay
Silver's just another gold
When you're bitter and you're old
You can tell me anything
But not what the future brings
I just don't feel quite the same
Whether you're here to walk away
Or if you're here so you can stay
Silver's just another gold
When you're bitter and you're old
You can tell me anything
But not what the future brings
Lyrics submitted by xdvr
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I can't believe this song isn't commented on, this is such an epic and unbelievable piece of art. I think this song is talking about just having a bad outlook on life. "Silver's just another gold when you're bitter and you're old" Meaning that nothing is special to you, and your life is without fulfillment if you have a negative outlook.
I feel this song deeply... I think if everyone will understand easily this song, our life is better than now.
Can I just add... this is Fucking Awesome!
I just keep coming back to the Silver EP... Definitely the best release of the 00s, unless something turns up in the next 3 months.
Opiate Sun out soon... hope it's more structured like the Silver EP.
I'm getting two contrasting things: Getting old How emotionally you don't feel as you used to do A relationship on unsure ground
"Whether you're here to walk away Or if you're here so you can stay" Best lines in the song, lots of resigned weight.
To me, this song is very melancholy outlook on being old, which can be in itself a very melancholy subject.
"I don't understand the pain" Often, when you're old, you have all this pain and suffering both physically and mentally. The physical pain can be odd sometimes, coming up for no apparently reason other than to be there. The emotional pain is something I get into further on in my analysis.
"I just don't feel quite the same" This is a very nostalgic line about how the narrator doesn't feel the same as when they were more youthful. They could feel more alone or in more pain, or they could feel like a completely different person.
"Whether you're here to walk away Or if you're here so you can stay" This hits on the more lonely aspect of old age. Commonly, when someone grows old, especially if they get some sort of disease that changes them slightly, like Alzheimers, they are left on their own. People don't want to have to deal with the old because their predicament is so frightening. The youth fear to be around the elderly because they know that is what they will one day become. Though this is not true for all old people or all youth, it is true for our narrator.
"Silver's just another gold When you're bitter and you're old" When people do visit, or when you're being social, or you're doing something you enjoy, it's different. It's like you treasure that moment and hold it to you for as long as you can. For people who are so alone, and so saddened and plagued, it's important to make those silvers into golds and make everything in your life so much more important than what a youth would consider it.
"You can tell me anything But not what the future brings" They can't be told that everything is going to be okay because they are in the last leg of their life. Either that, or this person had turned so many silvers into gold and has been able to gain hope that the rest of their life, no matter how long, will be go. You won't be able to tell this person that they are to die soon because they are so hopeful that they believe they have time.
On a side note, this is one of my favourite Jesu songs and actually the first one I ever heard.