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.
There was a girl named Annie
She had a very pretty face
And not the way you would think so
Let me see if I can try to explain it
She had a smile, it could light up a room
And if she moved, it'd be movin' in you
But she wasn't like a magazine
She was just plain Jane and her name was Annie
She never looked in the mirror
She never liked what she would see
And even if I tried to tell her
She never listened to a word I'd say
She always wanted what she never had
But never had what she needed so badly
Someone tellin' her she was fine
And that's not right and it's why I'm sayin'
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
I didn't know if I could tell her
I didn't know if I could make her see
She didn't need to find her beauty
She didn't need to find a way to show me
They took her moments of feelin' alive
And made them moments of dyin' inside
She needed someone to scream her name
To take her pain and it's why I screamin'
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
And Annie, you are the one sight
My eyes never tire of
It's like I cannot get enough of you
Annie, you are the one song left in my symphony
Like you were made for me
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
Have to stop myself, have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
'Cause you're beautiful
'Cause you're beautiful
There was a girl named Annie
She had a very pretty face
She had a very pretty face
And not the way you would think so
Let me see if I can try to explain it
She had a smile, it could light up a room
And if she moved, it'd be movin' in you
But she wasn't like a magazine
She was just plain Jane and her name was Annie
She never looked in the mirror
She never liked what she would see
And even if I tried to tell her
She never listened to a word I'd say
She always wanted what she never had
But never had what she needed so badly
Someone tellin' her she was fine
And that's not right and it's why I'm sayin'
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
I didn't know if I could tell her
I didn't know if I could make her see
She didn't need to find her beauty
She didn't need to find a way to show me
They took her moments of feelin' alive
And made them moments of dyin' inside
She needed someone to scream her name
To take her pain and it's why I screamin'
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
And Annie, you are the one sight
My eyes never tire of
It's like I cannot get enough of you
Annie, you are the one song left in my symphony
Like you were made for me
Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, don't just lie there
Looks don't make the world go 'round
But it comes around
And Annie, don't be shy here
Annie, please don't cry here
I always have to stop myself
Have to stop myself, have to stop myself
'Cause you're beautiful
'Cause you're beautiful
'Cause you're beautiful
There was a girl named Annie
She had a very pretty face
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Great version of a great song,
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First off, its not "but she wasn't like a magazine" its "but it wasn't like a magazine".
Anyway, this is just an amazing song, probably my favorite song now. This song makes me think of this girl I am just absolutely crazy for, and think that she's by far the most beautiful girl in the world, and she too has self esteem issues. It's funny though that her name's actually angie. But anyway, the line that always gets to me is when he says "You are the one song left in my symphony like you were made for me".
As far as the meaning goes, I think everyone's got it right when they said it's about a girl who has low self esteem, probably a result of being hurt by past relationships (at least it seems that way in the second verse), and the singer wants to do everything he can to tell this girl that she's beautiful (She needed someone to scream her name, to take her pain, and it's why I'm screaming).
Oh and one more thing, I saw SafetySuit when they opened for Seether, and they were amazing live. I can't wait to see them again in February with 3 Doors Down. Hopefully 2009 will be the year these guys become huge.
Well for me, it's like my boyfriend wrote this song for me. Not only does this relate to my life, but my name is Annie.