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 old believers of the russian church are
Hawking their wares and selling their merch
While the kayak man with his farmer's tan
Sits in his van and complains about his day
When profession is an excuse for personality
And the linens of dreams get caught in wash machine screams
And the tender at the bar has an orange backless dress that catches your eye
He's packed his cellphone
And the lamppost lights are on
The ship is setting sail
The winds are blowing strong
He don't see
He don't care
He feels the life leaving
Him with every step
And it catches your eye
I've got a lot of time an money, I don't want to spend either on you
I've got a lot of time, listen honey, I don't want to spend it on you
That's what he said
To me
It's what he'd say
To you
And if you think you're held in some higher regard, well
Hold your tongue
I've got a lot of time an money, I don't want to spend either on you
I've got a lot of time, listen honey, I don't want to spend it on you
My wallet's filled with broken dreams
Hawking their wares and selling their merch
While the kayak man with his farmer's tan
Sits in his van and complains about his day
When profession is an excuse for personality
And the linens of dreams get caught in wash machine screams
And the tender at the bar has an orange backless dress that catches your eye
He's packed his cellphone
And the lamppost lights are on
The ship is setting sail
The winds are blowing strong
He don't see
He don't care
He feels the life leaving
Him with every step
And it catches your eye
I've got a lot of time an money, I don't want to spend either on you
I've got a lot of time, listen honey, I don't want to spend it on you
That's what he said
To me
It's what he'd say
To you
And if you think you're held in some higher regard, well
Hold your tongue
I've got a lot of time an money, I don't want to spend either on you
I've got a lot of time, listen honey, I don't want to spend it on you
My wallet's filled with broken dreams
Lyrics submitted by JFISHAUF
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
There's been some confusion as to the meaning (or lack thereof) of this song. As it's creator, I'll explain.
The first 2 lines are about the mixture of religion and commercialism. The themes are not brought up again in the song, and serve only as an interesting introduction the song's world. The second 2 lines introduce the main character of the song, the "kayak man".
The next paragraph is fairly self-explanatory. Though vague when read together, each line is addressing a different idea connected by the ideas of business, celebrity, and dreams, and their effect. The third line of the paragraph is about distractions and that things that 'catch our eye'.
The next paragraph begins painting a picture of the 'kayak man'. "He's packed his cellphone and the lamppost lights are on" hint that he is a stereotypical businessman, uncaring of the environment or world around him. His only goal is money, and furthering himself. "The ship is setting sail and the winds are blowing strong" foreshadows his death, and the speed at which it will reach him. This theme is strengthened in the next paragraph, and it is discovered that he does not know or care about it.
The line "I've got a lot of time an money, I don't want to spend either on you" is further illustration of his arrogant and condescending character.
The next lines explain to the reader that the 'kayak (and business)man' would treat anyone the same way.
The last line is the character's thoughts as he realizes he is going to die, and that his life was meaningless.
The title is the year the character was born.