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.
You don't know, but you feel you lack, you go on
And you feel this fact, you lose hope
But you've been through this, you guess this
Is just another lapse, you don't know
But you feel you lack, you go on
And you feel this fact, you lose hope
But you've been through this, you guess this
Is just another lapse
Ohh... Ohh...
You move on
And you don't look back, it's not right
Someone's fortune's slack, you feel broke
Like shattered glass, but don't ask
'Cause it might not last
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would wait through the night
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would break through, break through
I know you feel like just giving it up this time
I know you feel like just giving it up this time
Honey, don't give up; honey, don't give up; honey, don't give up
Let it out tonight
It's gonna be alright if you fight (Fight)
Let it out tonight
It's gonna be alright if you fight
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would wait through the night
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would break through, break through
21st century overload, don't you know
21st century overload
21st century overload, don't you know
21st century overload
You don't have to go, baby, don't
You don't have to go in overload
You don't have to go, baby, don't
Don't have to, you don't have to move on
And you don't look back, it's not right
Someone's fortune's slack, you feel broke
Like shattered glass, but don't ask
'Cause it might not last...
And you feel this fact, you lose hope
But you've been through this, you guess this
Is just another lapse, you don't know
But you feel you lack, you go on
And you feel this fact, you lose hope
But you've been through this, you guess this
Is just another lapse
Ohh... Ohh...
You move on
And you don't look back, it's not right
Someone's fortune's slack, you feel broke
Like shattered glass, but don't ask
'Cause it might not last
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would wait through the night
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would break through, break through
I know you feel like just giving it up this time
I know you feel like just giving it up this time
Honey, don't give up; honey, don't give up; honey, don't give up
Let it out tonight
It's gonna be alright if you fight (Fight)
Let it out tonight
It's gonna be alright if you fight
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would wait through the night
21st century overload
Go and seek comfort, but don't you know
You'll be alright if you would break through, break through
21st century overload, don't you know
21st century overload
21st century overload, don't you know
21st century overload
You don't have to go, baby, don't
You don't have to go in overload
You don't have to go, baby, don't
Don't have to, you don't have to move on
And you don't look back, it's not right
Someone's fortune's slack, you feel broke
Like shattered glass, but don't ask
'Cause it might not last...
Lyrics submitted by TwilightPaladin
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
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.