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.
Standing for nothing, frivolous, unconscious
A flag tells you just be the same
Amidst contentment, complacence, a dozen warring nations
And you just add fuel to the flame
Anthems told me what to be, tried to tell me how to see
And still I held their ideals as a curse
While the big-wigs decided we'll all be divided
Opposing factions put cash in the purse
It's so simple to see what's behind the faded glory
Stand on guard for thee and what they'd have me be
Reject what they say, deny what they feel
Stand up and walk past those who'd have you kneel
Reject what they say, deny what they feel
Search with your heart, find what's real
Labelled and jaded, neatly fabricated
With a thick flag blinding your eyes
And the charter in your mouth just spits the anthem out
And we all start believing the lies
The true north strong and free in its archaic vanity
Sets an image for the world well put forth
But when welfare's on the block
And there's munitions in the stock
One wonders what the hell it's all worth
Are you proud of what your fore fathers did
For God and country everything that they said
Thank God you can say this is where you were born
Are you proud of all the natives who fell
Of all the soldiers forced off into hell
Sent home wrapped in the flag they died for
Tagged, marked, and branded, mentally short-handed
Smile this is the best place on earth
While evil twisted premiers half a century my age
Won't admit to my education's worth
So I'll sit back complacent, silent, and patient
And wonder what the hell is so great
About 60 million hands renovating stolen lands
And a government founded on spite
And you'll be the better for it one day
A flag tells you just be the same
Amidst contentment, complacence, a dozen warring nations
And you just add fuel to the flame
Anthems told me what to be, tried to tell me how to see
And still I held their ideals as a curse
While the big-wigs decided we'll all be divided
Opposing factions put cash in the purse
It's so simple to see what's behind the faded glory
Stand on guard for thee and what they'd have me be
Reject what they say, deny what they feel
Stand up and walk past those who'd have you kneel
Reject what they say, deny what they feel
Search with your heart, find what's real
Labelled and jaded, neatly fabricated
With a thick flag blinding your eyes
And the charter in your mouth just spits the anthem out
And we all start believing the lies
The true north strong and free in its archaic vanity
Sets an image for the world well put forth
But when welfare's on the block
And there's munitions in the stock
One wonders what the hell it's all worth
Are you proud of what your fore fathers did
For God and country everything that they said
Thank God you can say this is where you were born
Are you proud of all the natives who fell
Of all the soldiers forced off into hell
Sent home wrapped in the flag they died for
Tagged, marked, and branded, mentally short-handed
Smile this is the best place on earth
While evil twisted premiers half a century my age
Won't admit to my education's worth
So I'll sit back complacent, silent, and patient
And wonder what the hell is so great
About 60 million hands renovating stolen lands
And a government founded on spite
And you'll be the better for it one day
Lyrics submitted by lii
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