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.
Everybody wants to be happy
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants more loving
Everybody wants the same things
I came across the border
Through the east and the west divide
The land between the trenches
Was patrolled by the deaf and the blind
The blind were shouting, ?Listen?
While the deaf said, ?Can't you see??
Somewhere deep in no man's land
The man has lost a key
I open up into this mystery
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
There's centuries of fighting
So I brought myself a gun
The salesman called it freedom
So my enemy bought a bigger one
I'm saving up for a missile
That will shoot him up with love
Now his finger's on my button
And my hand is in his glove
I opened up into this mystery
Every key can lock you up or set you free
I believe that there is magic
In this mystery
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
Everybody wants to be happy
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants the same things
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants more loving
Everybody wants the same things
I came across the border
Through the east and the west divide
The land between the trenches
Was patrolled by the deaf and the blind
The blind were shouting, ?Listen?
While the deaf said, ?Can't you see??
Somewhere deep in no man's land
The man has lost a key
I open up into this mystery
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
There's centuries of fighting
So I brought myself a gun
The salesman called it freedom
So my enemy bought a bigger one
I'm saving up for a missile
That will shoot him up with love
Now his finger's on my button
And my hand is in his glove
I opened up into this mystery
Every key can lock you up or set you free
I believe that there is magic
In this mystery
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
Everybody wants to be happy
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants the same things
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen
Lyrics submitted by MaskOfSanity
Afro Lover Lyrics as written by James Glennie David John Baynton-power
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think this song's great! It's pure cheesy pop, very Pet Shop Boys-esque and very atypical of James, but it's one of the stronger tracks off Millionaires regardless. Tim's vocal sounds a lot more passionate on this track than most others on the album. It should have been a single, I think this had more hit potential than any of the songs they did release off Millionaires.
The lyrics are pretty weak and cheesy for a James song, but for me that just contributes to the song's appeal, it's just an upbeat dancey pop tune that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously... it's one of few songs I can actually listen to over and over again and not get bored of, and it always brightens my state of mind.
Despite the cheesiness of the lyrics there does seem to be a deeper message in them somewhere... it seems to be about a soldier in a war feeling a real sense of fighting for freedom and virtue amidst all the violence. The whole 'everybody wants to be happy/everybody wants the same things' verse would seem to refer to what lies at the heart of war in the end... everyone's desire to be free, wealthy and loved... possibly one of, if not the only, optimistic war song I've heard. Not exactly pro-war, but optimistic amidst the violence.