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 put on my finest summer dress,
So light and thin, it was my best.
I brushed my hair, I held my breath.
I went out to face the wilderness.
I went out to face the wilderness.
The men in hats.
The boys on bikes.
The perfect girls.
The baby dikes.
The superstars, blighted ones.
I went out to face them, one by one.
I went out to face them. One by one.
I said "Goodbye, Mary-anne!"
As you turn to watch me.
"Don't cry, Mary-anne.
And don't try to stop me."
"Cause I'm gonna go where the lights are bright;
Where sacred secrets sail like kites.
We've been sleepin' girl, all our lives,
And we never lived, no, we just survived.
And we never lived. We just survived."
I'll take my heart. I'll take my key.
And find out who could care for me.
Are there pots of gold?
Are there floods and fires?
Are there thieves and beggars,
Or Saints and liars?
Are there thieves and beggars,
Or saints and liars?
And so "Goodbye, Mary-anne!"
As you turn to watch me.
"Don't cry, Mary-anne.
And don't try to stop me."
I put on my finest summer dress,
So light and thin, torn at the chest.
I brushed my hair, I held my breath.
I went out to face the wilderness.
I went out to face the wilderness.
Mary-anne.
Mary-anne, don't cry.
Mary-anne!
So light and thin, it was my best.
I brushed my hair, I held my breath.
I went out to face the wilderness.
I went out to face the wilderness.
The men in hats.
The boys on bikes.
The perfect girls.
The baby dikes.
The superstars, blighted ones.
I went out to face them, one by one.
I went out to face them. One by one.
I said "Goodbye, Mary-anne!"
As you turn to watch me.
"Don't cry, Mary-anne.
And don't try to stop me."
"Cause I'm gonna go where the lights are bright;
Where sacred secrets sail like kites.
We've been sleepin' girl, all our lives,
And we never lived, no, we just survived.
And we never lived. We just survived."
I'll take my heart. I'll take my key.
And find out who could care for me.
Are there pots of gold?
Are there floods and fires?
Are there thieves and beggars,
Or Saints and liars?
Are there thieves and beggars,
Or saints and liars?
And so "Goodbye, Mary-anne!"
As you turn to watch me.
"Don't cry, Mary-anne.
And don't try to stop me."
I put on my finest summer dress,
So light and thin, torn at the chest.
I brushed my hair, I held my breath.
I went out to face the wilderness.
I went out to face the wilderness.
Mary-anne.
Mary-anne, don't cry.
Mary-anne!
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This song is mentioned in the album jacket, it apparently being about going out to perform.
"I'm going to go where the lights are bright / Where sacred secrets sail like kites."
I'd really like to know more about it though; like who Mary-anne is.