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.
Farewell, this blackened eye
You learned your lessons falling down
Far behind and tracing footsteps home
Despite your lack of pride
You wore your imperfections well
Dignified, spend your time alone
Trace your footsteps home
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling out of line
Farewell, this bitter tongue
You spoke your lessons falling down
Talking out and breaking silence
Despite the harm you've done
You swallowed your rejection well
Amplified, sing your song alone
Trace your footsteps home
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling
Swallow time, falling down
Speaking out, falling far behind
Your time running out and talking down
Falling out of line
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling out of line
You learned your lessons falling down
Far behind and tracing footsteps home
Despite your lack of pride
You wore your imperfections well
Dignified, spend your time alone
Trace your footsteps home
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling out of line
Farewell, this bitter tongue
You spoke your lessons falling down
Talking out and breaking silence
Despite the harm you've done
You swallowed your rejection well
Amplified, sing your song alone
Trace your footsteps home
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling
Swallow time, falling down
Speaking out, falling far behind
Your time running out and talking down
Falling out of line
Your hands are always reaching out of favor
Your kind are only good for bad behavior
Your mouth was never one to trust
You're always speaking out, falling far behind
Falling out of line
Lyrics submitted by torturedsoul
Falling Down Lyrics as written by Michael Hanmer Matthew O'halloran
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It seems to be about a guy that she is only with for the sex or for fun and is not serious about. He's "only good for bad behaviour". He is not growing up or growing at all and she's getting sick of it. He keeps learning his "lessons falling down" and is not really learning from his mistakes.