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.
Fragile little thing go lightly on the wing
Don't be put off your game
If troubled wind should blow you off your way
Natural love and trust
Have downed their tools and struck
The nation's heart it rusts is no surprise
And seems so appropriate today
Black tears on a red rock
Fall right through and they dry up
How could it fail to grab your attention
Black tears on a red rock
These trees bear a strange fruit
Harvesting lies and poisoned blossoms of the truth
There's blood on all our hands and blood on our boots
And black tears on a red rock
An island watch house bed
A black man's lying dead
An island watch house bed
A black man's lying dead
Don't be put off your game
If troubled wind should blow you off your way
Natural love and trust
Have downed their tools and struck
The nation's heart it rusts is no surprise
And seems so appropriate today
Black tears on a red rock
Fall right through and they dry up
How could it fail to grab your attention
Black tears on a red rock
These trees bear a strange fruit
Harvesting lies and poisoned blossoms of the truth
There's blood on all our hands and blood on our boots
And black tears on a red rock
An island watch house bed
A black man's lying dead
An island watch house bed
A black man's lying dead
Lyrics submitted by timmas, edited by CloudEater
Black Tears Lyrics as written by Darren Stuart Middleton Bernard Joseph Fanning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Palm_Island_death_in_custody
The song was pretty controversial when it came out