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.
I won't settle for this
with open arms and unclenched fists
cause someday they'll pass my stone
to throw a flower, drop a kiss
and i won't walk all over you
and heaven knows you asked me too
but even if you're by my side
heaven just won't do
and i want this world at my fingertips
its people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
but i could never need
and its for this desperation
i pull the stars right out of space
load them in my pistol
make the world a better place
and the fences can not keep me out
of a world they hadn't told me about
someday i'll split that skyline
oh this machine is built to climb
and i will not say i lied to you
even when its close to true
cause baby when you're close to me
i can never feel you
and i want this world at my fingertips
it's people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
but i could never need
and it's for this desperation
i pull the stars from outterspace
load them in my pistol
make the world better
tearing down is building
oh baby can't you see
that losing you is finding all that i could never be
and if hurting you were murder
there's no other thought i'd bleed
then to curse the bloody fingertips
that did this all to me
and i want this world at my fingertips
its people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
and nothing that i need
and laws of time and vision
put the stars back in the space
throw away the pistol
make the world a better place
with open arms and unclenched fists
cause someday they'll pass my stone
to throw a flower, drop a kiss
and i won't walk all over you
and heaven knows you asked me too
but even if you're by my side
heaven just won't do
and i want this world at my fingertips
its people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
but i could never need
and its for this desperation
i pull the stars right out of space
load them in my pistol
make the world a better place
and the fences can not keep me out
of a world they hadn't told me about
someday i'll split that skyline
oh this machine is built to climb
and i will not say i lied to you
even when its close to true
cause baby when you're close to me
i can never feel you
and i want this world at my fingertips
it's people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
but i could never need
and it's for this desperation
i pull the stars from outterspace
load them in my pistol
make the world better
tearing down is building
oh baby can't you see
that losing you is finding all that i could never be
and if hurting you were murder
there's no other thought i'd bleed
then to curse the bloody fingertips
that did this all to me
and i want this world at my fingertips
its people at my feet
to give me all the things that i desire
and nothing that i need
and laws of time and vision
put the stars back in the space
throw away the pistol
make the world a better place
Lyrics submitted by paperplains
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
Calender girl- The lines
"I'll pull the stars right out of space load them in my pistol make the world a better place" could refer to suicide. He could be saying that he has no place in this world, and that it would be better without out him. That interpretation would make sense, but I think that he is saying "someday i'll split that skyline." That he needs to break free from the rules set by society and make some drastic changes on the world.
But make sense, but I think the second fits into the theme of the song better.