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'd like to laugh at what you said
But I just can't find a smile
I wonder why you can't
I struggle with myself
Hopping I might change a little
Hopping that I might be
Someone I wanna be
Looking out I wanna know someone might care
Looking out I want a reason to be there
'Cause I don't know what I've do to deserve you
And I don't know what I'll do, without you
Looking out I want to know some way might clear
Looking out I want a reason to repair
'Cause I don't know what I've done to deserve you
And I don't know what I'll do without you
I can't see nothing good
And nothing is so bad
I've never had the chance to explain
Exactly what I meant
But I just can't find a smile
I wonder why you can't
I struggle with myself
Hopping I might change a little
Hopping that I might be
Someone I wanna be
Looking out I wanna know someone might care
Looking out I want a reason to be there
'Cause I don't know what I've do to deserve you
And I don't know what I'll do, without you
Looking out I want to know some way might clear
Looking out I want a reason to repair
'Cause I don't know what I've done to deserve you
And I don't know what I'll do without you
I can't see nothing good
And nothing is so bad
I've never had the chance to explain
Exactly what I meant
Lyrics submitted by macieq, edited by hippiejolle, Wormsie, JudasDenied
Nylon Smile Lyrics as written by Beth Gibbons Adrian Francis Utley
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I just read a couple of comments above (from writing this since the box is below) and realized something. If this person has a husband who she feels cold about then maybe that is what he wants her to change so she can feel remorse for any further situations. It's quite possible that she will feel a sense of sanity after the guilt and therefore find herself outwardly manifested as true happiness instead of pretense that is a white line and blob of nylon-related despair upon her smiling lips--that only smile sarcastically. She may be singing from a past view in a way to make these ideas coexist, however, if she is speaking from the point of her life she sung this song, then it's quite possible that the character (who may be her) is feeling a sense of sadness and remorse for the inability to change her coldness to make her husband be more faithful as a human reaction similar to karma. (If she believes in that) 'I never had the chance to explain exactly what I meant' may be a feeling of guilt that she has today if this is a past, but regardless of it being past or present, she definitely is feeling a sense of coldness that she cannot explain and therefore cannot let go of the prime reason she still (from the past) feelings of guilt. She sings like that guilt is what is within her today--her smile coated in deep sarcastic whiteness (under symbolic interpretation and representation) She cares within a coldness.