Bloodshot

I think vball made some great points, but I also think smoking marijuana is a large part of the song. It wouldn't be the first and won't be the last time that Andrew will put elements of smoking in his work (solo and SoCo). I obviously think the title and the talk about looking into his bloodshot eyes, plus the repeated use of the word high, are more than enough example of this.

I think that the song is about how life is depressing and sad, and a constant struggle, but about how smoking weed relieves that stress and somehow makes everything beautiful. This is why I think the lyrics are very dark and depressing like vBall described, but the music is so uplifting and beautiful just like the sun rising "the sky is on fire".

Personally, no matter what crazy shit is going on in my life, waking up and watching the sun rise while smoking a bowl or joint or blunt is amazing, it clears my head and is a nice time to plan out my day and mentally prepare for it all.

You guys can have your meanings, but for me- that is what this song reminds me of. I also visualize this sunrise on a beach, since skyscapes are rarely as amazing as in the middle of the summer on the beach, smoking a joint just by yourself watching it from right on the beach, the sky does look like its on fire sometimes, the reds and oranges and pinks eating up the darkness of night.

I have no idea what this song means, but I think it's totally amazing, I got it like the minute it came out on The Ghost Overground, and Andrew McMahon ROCKS :D

shades of eleanor rigby (lyrically)... i like it... ahh what the hell - love it !

k, even though people might think this songs a little about drugs, what with the high and bloodshot eyes lyrics, i dont think thats what it is. The hills still left to climb, its just so high. i think its about growing up and how hard it can be. like, you know, going over the hill..getting older. OR, it can be about any sort of challenge in life, like maybe a depressed woman, a traumatized mannn. tell me whatya think!!! i love this song!!!

It definitely is about how people's lives are bland, pointless, and just tiring. The first verse or two is about a girl who literally starts her day behind everyone else (the mail) and how her exuberance is fading by growing up and paying bills and handling real problems. The next verse is about a Veteran painting his sights from the war. The canvas is red because all he saw was carnage and blood. No one will see this. He's making a futile attempt to show his sights to people. The hill is a symbol for life. It's just too high to climb and by the end of the day, we're all too tired to actually climb it. The last verse is saying how we're in valleys (flat land) and we just keep trying to climb the hill. We start out already defeated.

That's my take :)

I agree with vball... They are like it's just so high, and I'm so tired, I don't wanna do this... get up and make a difference or something. Live life...

live life indeed... This song is great....so meaningful....it always gets to me when human examples are included in the lyrics....makes things real...you can picture it in your mind and that makes the mood just jump out. I love the tempo in this song....!!!

I love how when he sings "bright red," he sings it the same way that he sings a few of the "dark blue"'s in "Dark Blue" off Everything In Transit.

I agree with Sil here. People feel like they live stressful lives. Weed is an escape from what is a burden to a person. I think the word "high" can be conveyed in two ways here. "Too high", as in a task you feel are out of reach or impossible. "High", as in a escape from life. They go hand and hand, i feel. When somethings "too high" you want to get high.

I really love Andrew for this song. He's an amazing lyricist.

I agree with the marijuana influences that others have mentioned. Like, if something gets difficult, most people want to just take the easy way out.

This also sort of makes me think of his struggle with cancer. He might not have gotten much sleep when he was in treatment for it, hence the "I'm so tired" and "bloodshot eyes" part.

Overall, this song's just amazing. I love it, and TGP.