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.
Dear Ms. Leading I hate to tell you that I no longer need your services
A bitter fabricating manufacturer of lust
You have been presented as
It doesn’t do a thing for me, I now know your identity
A black widow who temps the gray with promises of love
If ignorance is bliss ,wish I was blissfully ignorant
But I'm not, I'm enlightened now light has been presented to me
In spite of you
Come now Ms. Leading I regret to inform you
I’ve fallen out of lust
It must be so hard to understand
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Did you really think me a fool enough to play along?
And make believing everything you said was true
Push your pouting lips on other unsuspecting lovers
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Dear Ms. Leading in response to your response
I'm simply unavailable
I hope you got the message in the message that I sent
Shame on me for falling for someone so dense
In different times I’d might of played along for something warm, something with security
As fleeting as momentary rapture and the pleasure of collapsing in arms
So welcoming to others just like me
Come now Ms. Leading I regret to inform you
I’ve fallen out of lust
It must be so hard to understand
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Did you really think me a fool enough to play along?
And make believing everything you said was true
Push your pouting lips on other unsuspecting lovers
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
A bitter fabricating manufacturer of lust
You have been presented as
It doesn’t do a thing for me, I now know your identity
A black widow who temps the gray with promises of love
If ignorance is bliss ,wish I was blissfully ignorant
But I'm not, I'm enlightened now light has been presented to me
In spite of you
Come now Ms. Leading I regret to inform you
I’ve fallen out of lust
It must be so hard to understand
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Did you really think me a fool enough to play along?
And make believing everything you said was true
Push your pouting lips on other unsuspecting lovers
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Dear Ms. Leading in response to your response
I'm simply unavailable
I hope you got the message in the message that I sent
Shame on me for falling for someone so dense
In different times I’d might of played along for something warm, something with security
As fleeting as momentary rapture and the pleasure of collapsing in arms
So welcoming to others just like me
Come now Ms. Leading I regret to inform you
I’ve fallen out of lust
It must be so hard to understand
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Did you really think me a fool enough to play along?
And make believing everything you said was true
Push your pouting lips on other unsuspecting lovers
(Hell no I don’t think so, hell no I don’t think so)
Lyrics submitted by ciesl279
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
wow, easily one of the best songs on the cd. when he just starts belting it at the chorus, its just insane.
ms leading is a hooker right?
hahaha yes ms. leading is a whore who works at the same brothel the dear hunter's dead mother worked at, and so he leaves his house on the lake and the river and gets on a train (the oracles on the delphi express) to The Dime (the brothel, sees ms. leading, goes to the brothel to her room (bitter suite one and two), gets laid (bitter suite three, wakes up to find her gone, talks to the pimp, and realizes hes fallen in love with ms leading (smiling swine), and through the duration of the rest of the album he realizes he basically cant deal with her being a hooker (evicted, blood of the rose, red hands) realizes he cant be with her anymore (where the road parts), writes a letter to her and she gets it and realizes hes right, basically (dear ms. leading and black sandy beaches) and vital vessle vindicates is basically summing it all up.
Lyric book says "Push your pouting lips on other unsuspecting lovers."
'Dear Ms. Leading I hate to tell you that I no longer need your services' -HE'S ENDING IT 'A bitter fabricating manufacturer of lust You have been presented as' -HE REALIZES IT WAS HER JOB TO GIVE HIM THOSE FEELINGS 'It doesn’t do a thing for me, I now know your identity A black widow who temps the gray with promises of love' -AGAIN, HE SEES WHAT SHE REALLY IS NOW. 'IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS, WISH I WAS BLISSFULLY IGNORANT' -Great line!!
ANOTHER LINE: The line that says 'Shame on me for falling for someone SO DENSE' I think he really says 'Shame on me for falling for someone FORBIDEN' -HE REALIZES HIS FEELINGS SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.
isnt the line "a black widow who temps the gray with promises of love" really "a black widow who tempts her prey with promises of love"
the album version of this can be heard on the new ecard here:
ecards.tenminutemedia.net/dearhunter/
The first time this line appears, it actually goes "Push your battering lips on other unsuspecting men."
The second time, I think it says "Push your battering lips on other unsuspecting lovers."
Amazing song though.
i put these lyrics up before act II when all i had heard was the demos
The childs writting a letter right now. "you have been presented as..." this is just a clever way to say that he found her out. and realizes what she is.
and its really "push your battered lips on other unsuspecting lovers"
The dear Hunter finally sets his mind on the fact that he was only being used by Ms. Leading. It can be assumed that an event has happened to cause him to come to this conclusion, or her "spell" has finally worn off on him where he can see the truth. He is completely separating himself form Ms. Leading. He says he has fallen out of "lust" not "love". The Dear Hunter is fully aware of Ms. leading's infidelity