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.
Roll away your stone I will roll away mine
Together we can see what we will find
Don't leave me alone at this time
For I am afraid of what I will discover inside
You told me that I would find a home
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal
And all the while my character it steals
And darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
It seems that all my bridges have been burned
But you say 'That's exactly how this grace thing works'
It's not the long walk home that will change this heart
But the welcome I receive with every start
Darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
Darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
Stars hide your fires
For these here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
Stars hide your fires
For these here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
And you, you've gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine
Together we can see what we will find
Don't leave me alone at this time
For I am afraid of what I will discover inside
You told me that I would find a home
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal
And all the while my character it steals
And darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
It seems that all my bridges have been burned
But you say 'That's exactly how this grace thing works'
It's not the long walk home that will change this heart
But the welcome I receive with every start
Darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
Darkness is a harsh term don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I see
Stars hide your fires
For these here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
Stars hide your fires
For these here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
And you, you've gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine
Lyrics submitted by rozelemarijn, edited by goodbit, kat9, pclarosp
Roll Away Your Stone Lyrics as written by Edward James Milton Dwane Benjamin Walter David Lovett
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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For me the obvious interpretation is Shakespeare's Macbeth.
"And I have filled this void with things unreal, And all the while my character it steals"
Throughout Macbeth, his soul withers away with each grievous choice he makes and he slips further into an abyss, stealing his character. He was once a mighty general and had the King's favor, but greed and ambition (things unreal) derail him.
"Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think? And yet it dominates the things I see"
Macbeth is constantly haunted by dark images, ghosts, witches. His mind becomes fixated on fulfilling the prophecies foretold by the witches.
"It seems that all my bridges have been burned, But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart, But the welcome I receive with the restart"
Macbeth has no friends remaining through the fault of his actions. His only escape (restart) is through death. This is where I think most people can find the Christian interpretation because of the reference of grace. When we consider God's grace we don't obtain it through a long walk back to God, it's freely given when we choose to restart. Macbeth's death is releasing his soul from torment and giving it back to God.
"Stars hide your fires, These here are my desires And I won't give them up to you this time around And so, I’ll be found with my stake stuck in this ground Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul"
This is taken straight from Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4. At this point in the song is before Macbeth's death (or possibly his spirit speaking). Macbeth is murdered by MacDuff and instead of a proper burial he is decapitated and his head mounted on a stake.
When you read the actual play by Shakespeare you will see a theme of light vs. dark, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong and the very difficult choices Macbeth, a flawed human, struggles with on his journey. He is a ruthless character, but what draws me into the story of Macbeth is the possibility that any one of us could be Macbeth if the right temptations triggered our ambition.