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 think i finally understand
the way a broken arm can hate the hand
the way a farmer hates his crop
the way a lawyer hates the honest cop
the smell of chamomile
beneath my sickle blade
will not comfort the cancer-stricken
or provide some common shade
i finally woke up at the drop
and told the driver that he had to stop
and then he got down on his knees
you know these actors always die in threes
the sound of dialog
translated by a hack
it gives me chills when she pays the bills and
still has time to surprise attack
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
the look of camouflage
on the ones who beg
the decider says i'm a fighter
but i can't feel my fucking legs
lalalalala
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out.
the way a broken arm can hate the hand
the way a farmer hates his crop
the way a lawyer hates the honest cop
the smell of chamomile
beneath my sickle blade
will not comfort the cancer-stricken
or provide some common shade
i finally woke up at the drop
and told the driver that he had to stop
and then he got down on his knees
you know these actors always die in threes
the sound of dialog
translated by a hack
it gives me chills when she pays the bills and
still has time to surprise attack
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
the look of camouflage
on the ones who beg
the decider says i'm a fighter
but i can't feel my fucking legs
lalalalala
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out.
Lyrics submitted by prayingmantis84
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OK, so I feel like this song COULD be about a United States soldier having a sudden epiphany (I think I finally understand...) about the senselessness of war, and it's damaging effects.
I think the 'sickle blade' is a metaphor for a military gun. Saying it 'will not comfort the cancer-stricken or provide some common shade' means even though the gun fights wars, it does absolutely nothing to effectively help people who are already dying (cancer-stricken) or are just trying to go about their daily lives (provide some common shade).
'I finally woke up at the drop' means he's fully aware of just how rotten things have become. His eyes are "wide open." 'And told the driver that he had to stop' means he's refusing to fight any longer, and even pleads with his commanding officer (the driver) to do the same. 'You know these actors always die in threes' is a metaphor for the three branches of the US government. He calls them 'actors' because they pretend to be honest and good, when in reality they're flawed and corrupt, thus he predicts their inevitable downfall. 'The sound of dialog translated by a hack' means someone (most likely the US Intelligence Agency) is deliberately causing miscommunication, in hopes of continuing the war. 'It gives me chills when she pays the bills and still has time to surprise attack' means this guy is appalled that the nation keeps wasting money on hasty wars. He refers to the United States as "she."
This guy wants everyone to admit that war IS useless (Come out, come out, come out and say it), and expresses frustration when no one will join him in protesting (Why can't you come out and say it?).
In the last part, the soldier muses about how the military desperately tries to stop him from dropping out (the look of camouflage on the ones who beg), and about how the President (the decider) keeps on insisting that he serve overseas (says i'm a fighter). He's so terrified of war, that his legs shake to the point where he can't even feel them (but i can't feel my fucking legs).
Well then, that's MY interpretation. But honestly, when I listen to this song, though, I don't really try to think of ANY of that, LOL. I just love the way the song sounds. What do YOU think?