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.
When you get the time
Sit down and write me a letter
When you're feeling better
Drop me a line
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out so fast
That people faded out
When there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets
When you get these feelings
Next time, next time
Oh, be sure
You're gonna tear someone apart
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out
That people faded out so fast
I wanna show you what I got inside
But you know those parts of me died
Just like that, they faded out, they faded out so fast
And there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one shove from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, there it is, there it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets
Sit down and write me a letter
When you're feeling better
Drop me a line
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out so fast
That people faded out
When there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets
When you get these feelings
Next time, next time
Oh, be sure
You're gonna tear someone apart
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out
That people faded out so fast
I wanna show you what I got inside
But you know those parts of me died
Just like that, they faded out, they faded out so fast
And there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one shove from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, there it is, there it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets
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No Surprises
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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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
The Sun Also Rises is a book (mainly) about a veteran of the first world war who is in love with the beautiful Brett Ashley. Brett, however, is promiscuous and while she still loves the narrator, she refuses to be with him. The narrator is an extremely stoic individual who suppresses his intense feelings of love and loss. Also, it is implied throughout the book that he is incapable of sex because of wounds sustained in the war. The lines
"I wanna show you what I got inside But you know those parts of me died"
could refer to both his emotional or physical sterility. It's a great book so i'd thought i'd offer a quick synopsis. Great song.
Wow no one else has commented. This is probably one of the best songs RA has ever written, the chorus, especially the outtro chorus, is amazing
a-Freakin-men .....this is about the difficulties of a relationship, whether short or long term, failing. Every relationship can be worked out with love, but some people are just to damn stubborn and proud to admit that they love the other. so they let the relationship dissolve until there is nothing left.....so to quote the man...."there it is!"
Yeah this song is amazing. "we are only one shove from the nest" - just kinda saying how everything (like relationships) are always on the verge of just being done - can't do nothing about it. So from what I take from it is, enjoy what you have when you have it and live it up to the fullest, cuz like he says, "the sun also sets..."
He knows the relationship is over, but he still wants to talk to her. He wants to know things are going, how it all worked out... even though he's "faded out" of the picture.
Obviously at the brink of ending a relationship. A love dwindling out quickly, that it's caught by surprise.
"The sun rises but the sun also sets", to every beginning is an end.
It's a song about the end of a relationship as has been stated. The sun rose and set on it. It's another way of saying that nothing lasts forever.
i cannot believe that of all the comments on this song, someone has yet to inquire about a reference to the Hemmingway novel "The Sun Also Rises". Especially since Ryan Adams has included some literary references in his past songs. The whole book is about love, and the damages that it can cause. I believe the song pertains to the book in some way but i can't quite put my finger on how. The second verse could certainly be written to Lady Ashley (for those of you who have read it), but i can't figure out the first half of the song...
I was hoping to get more information about the reference's to Hemmingway's "The Sun also Rises."
From what I got RA's lyrics: "When you get the time Sit down and write me a letter When you're feeling better Drop me a line I wanna know how it all works out I had a feeling we were fading out I didn't know that people faded out"
expresses the idea of supressed emotions. Those in the relationship are tired and wish for everything to be out in the surface, bc these surpressed emotions are what ultimately destroyed the relationship and all belief in anything good. From reviews that I have read about the book, the expriatriates represent a group of people who have lost hope and innocence. Just like in the song, the war and the relationships throughout have taken a toll of the individuals. THe end of the book leaves some idea that once all of society falls apart, then there is hope for it to restart for the better. Ryan adams seems to be answering that while there is achance that things may work out later, it will again fall apart.