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.
The streets are empty.
Inside it's warm.
His hands are shaking.
They locked the door.
A voice is calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when his dreams are running wild.
Boy and the ghost,
fire's not burning.
The lights went out,
the lights went out.
Big family dinner, the untold pain.
Their eyes are sparkling
on his frozen face.
Angel's calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when there's nowhere left to fall.
Boy and the ghost.
His eyes are burning.
The lights went out.
The dream is on.
Wake up, wake up:
there's an angel in the snow.
Look up, look:
it's a frightened dead boy,
with so much hate,
such bad dreams.
He could have seen.
The toy's the key,
but no one saw,
no one saw.
no one saw.
All he wanted was a toy;
all he needed was a beating heart
to lead him through the dark.
Boy and the ghost.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
When there's nowhere left to fall,
nowhere to hide.
The silence is hurting.
Inside it's cold.
Sleep or die.
Nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide.
His light went out.
Inside it's warm.
His hands are shaking.
They locked the door.
A voice is calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when his dreams are running wild.
Boy and the ghost,
fire's not burning.
The lights went out,
the lights went out.
Big family dinner, the untold pain.
Their eyes are sparkling
on his frozen face.
Angel's calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when there's nowhere left to fall.
Boy and the ghost.
His eyes are burning.
The lights went out.
The dream is on.
Wake up, wake up:
there's an angel in the snow.
Look up, look:
it's a frightened dead boy,
with so much hate,
such bad dreams.
He could have seen.
The toy's the key,
but no one saw,
no one saw.
no one saw.
All he wanted was a toy;
all he needed was a beating heart
to lead him through the dark.
Boy and the ghost.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
When there's nowhere left to fall,
nowhere to hide.
The silence is hurting.
Inside it's cold.
Sleep or die.
Nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide.
His light went out.
Lyrics submitted by SharaelCherin
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I agree with Satakieli. I think its more about a young beggar, orphan, or a boy whose been neglected by his parents or caretaker. The whole song sounds like he's knocking on doors to get some shelter and food during the Christmas holidays (explaining the toy) and everyone's ignoring him and not letting him in. It sounds like he died already and tarja is just singing about how this poor boy died.
The streets are empty. Inside it's warm. His hands are shaking. They locked the door. A voice is calling, asking to get in.
-He's roaming the streets in search of a place to take him in. He finds a house and the people inside just ignore him and lock the door so he can't get in.
All he wanted was a toy. All he needed was a gentle heart to lead him through the dark when his dreams are running wild.
-All he wants is a toy and a kind person to take him in. He just wants some place warm to stay.
Big family dinner, the untold pain. Their eyes are sparkling on his frozen face. Angel's calling, asking to get in.
-He stumbles upon a house where they are having Christmas dinner and enjoying themselves and he's outside freezing and sad because he wishes it were him. (The people's gleeful eyes sparkling on his frozen face) He's asking to come in and still no one listens. (Also explaining the no one saw part)
When there's nowhere left to fall, nowhere to hide. The silence is hurting. Inside it's cold.
Sleep or die. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. His light went out.
-This is how he died on the inside and outside. He was left out in the cold and froze and/or starved to death. Maybe he also came from an abusive home and so he has no home to go to and no one outside to let him or care. This is just my opinions. I agree the song is incredibly sad with so much meaning. I cried. :{