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 I walk beside her
I am the better man
When I look to leave her
I always stagger back again
Once I built an ivory tower
So I could worship from above
And when I climbed down to be set free
She took me in again
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
When she comes to greet me
She is mercy at my feet
When I see her pin her charm
She just throws it back again
Once I dug an early grave
To find a better land
She just smiled and laughed at me
And took her blues back again
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
When I go to cross that river
She is comfort by my side
When I try to understand
She just opens up her eyes
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
Once I stood to lose her
When I saw what I had done
Bound down and flew away the hours
Of her garden and her sun
So I tried to warn her
I'll turn to see her weep
Forty days and forty nights
And it's still coming down on me
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
I am the better man
When I look to leave her
I always stagger back again
Once I built an ivory tower
So I could worship from above
And when I climbed down to be set free
She took me in again
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
When she comes to greet me
She is mercy at my feet
When I see her pin her charm
She just throws it back again
Once I dug an early grave
To find a better land
She just smiled and laughed at me
And took her blues back again
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
When I go to cross that river
She is comfort by my side
When I try to understand
She just opens up her eyes
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
Once I stood to lose her
When I saw what I had done
Bound down and flew away the hours
Of her garden and her sun
So I tried to warn her
I'll turn to see her weep
Forty days and forty nights
And it's still coming down on me
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beaten on the big people
In the big hard world
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The song “Hard Sun” was sent to me as a gift... For me personally, a new acquaintance reached out to me for help during a desperate time in his life. I admit that I hesitated for a minute to get involved, because it's a delicate dance to help someone who might be suicidal...a serious responsibility and commitment to get involved, you know? Because what if they chose to leave this world anyway, you could be left with guilt and loss... I was apprehensive, but I listened to my intuition, took a deep breath, and tried to help him…I didn’t give up on him. As the months have passed, we have helped each other really....we have become the best of friends and he seems to be doing better. I don’t know what the future holds for him, but I will always cherish our friendship. My friend recently sent me the song “Hard Sun” (without me knowing anything about the song’s connection to the movie “Into The Wild”). He only hinted that I was the woman who was “comfort at his side”. As I listened to it, he made me realize that he felt I was his “hard sun” in the best sense…like a bright light of hope and help and unconditional love like the Sun was to Mother Earth. I just cried and cried listening to it. I will always interpret it that way…
That was so beautiful... :)
that was really beautiful.<br /> it's devastating & confusing when a "friend" will not even check to see if you're ok when you tell them you want to die. yet you were a new acquaintance & chose to help him the best you could even knowing that he might take his life. you put his life over protecting your own feelings<br /> that is awesome he sent you this song
I read through all the replies on here and you were one of the only ones who had a similar view on this as me. It's about being in an up and down volatile relationship and how life is tough and depressing. This person used to feel all high and mighty and now they are feeling suicidal. This song speaks volumes to me for some reason. Anyway, I hope your friend is feeling better.