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.
The hardest thing is rendering
A moment moving too fast to endure
But you abide and smile wide
'Cause I want to remember this, for sure
You can give me guns and politics
And I'll just make a mess of it, you know
Give me art and sustenance
And the wiser, wider part of me will show
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Yeah, every empty one of us
Have methods to quell the madness of this pace
But yours have bled and are running south
Like dollar store mascara down your face
You could take that weight and all that fuss
It all just gets the best of us, you know
Give me love, not suicide
And the wiser, wider part of me will show, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoa, oh
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
And you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Yeah, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoo
A moment moving too fast to endure
But you abide and smile wide
'Cause I want to remember this, for sure
You can give me guns and politics
And I'll just make a mess of it, you know
Give me art and sustenance
And the wiser, wider part of me will show
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Yeah, every empty one of us
Have methods to quell the madness of this pace
But yours have bled and are running south
Like dollar store mascara down your face
You could take that weight and all that fuss
It all just gets the best of us, you know
Give me love, not suicide
And the wiser, wider part of me will show, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoa, oh
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
And you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows
Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Yeah, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoo
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
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.
Such a nice friendly meaning... about perspective across life, which we are only able to perceive through timeless artifacts. I also think there's an ironic meaning to it, like a sort of criticism of our lack of perspective and falsity.