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.
Once I had a sweetheart; she kinda looked like Joan Fontaine
She made mediocre art but had a fascinating brain
She asked me how I felt about monogamy
I didn't understand what she was telling me
No
Well, you can come up short
And never know
Another debt I'm gonna owe
Well, I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it, resisted
Now those days are gone
Once I held my own set of keys to the senior executive suite, with
My very own secretary taking my calls and telling me who I was scheduled to meet with
They asked me what I thought about advancement
I wasn't sure what "We have other plans" meant
Well, you can lose your place
And never know
Another chance I'm gonna blow
So I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it, resisted
Now those days are gone
You can halve the distance all you like
And still not ever touch it
You can split the difference all your life
It hurts, it hurts so much, it...
Once I entertained the notion I could skate along on charm
Count on my wit and my looks alone to keep me safe from harm
You asked me how it felt to be a dilettante
(What?)
I knew that you knew the answer
But you didn't wanna hear it
No, you didn't wanna hear it
Well, you can blow your shot
And never know
Another game I'm gonna throw
So I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it
I pissed it all away
I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
You all said no, but I insisted!
That's how I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
Now those days are gone
She made mediocre art but had a fascinating brain
She asked me how I felt about monogamy
I didn't understand what she was telling me
No
Well, you can come up short
And never know
Another debt I'm gonna owe
Well, I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it, resisted
Now those days are gone
Once I held my own set of keys to the senior executive suite, with
My very own secretary taking my calls and telling me who I was scheduled to meet with
They asked me what I thought about advancement
I wasn't sure what "We have other plans" meant
Well, you can lose your place
And never know
Another chance I'm gonna blow
So I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it, resisted
Now those days are gone
You can halve the distance all you like
And still not ever touch it
You can split the difference all your life
It hurts, it hurts so much, it...
Once I entertained the notion I could skate along on charm
Count on my wit and my looks alone to keep me safe from harm
You asked me how it felt to be a dilettante
(What?)
I knew that you knew the answer
But you didn't wanna hear it
No, you didn't wanna hear it
Well, you can blow your shot
And never know
Another game I'm gonna throw
So I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
I got so close I could have kissed it
But then I missed it, I missed it
I pissed it all away
I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
You all said no, but I insisted!
That's how I missed it, I missed it, I missed it
Now those days are gone
Lyrics submitted by Eamon
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