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.
Have I been too discreet
How long am I supposed to wait
I think about you nightly
Oh can you tell I'm losing sleep
What am I supposed to do
It's hard to stay cool
When you smile at me
And I get nervous every time you speak
My bed's too big for just me
When you turn your eyes
I promise I won't care
Standing by your sister fair
Oh baby baby baby please
My heart sinks to my feet
What am I supposed to do
I think about you nightly
My bed's too big for just me
When you turn your eyes
I promise I won't care
Standing by your sister fair
Standing by your sister fair
Standing by your sister fair
When I look into your eyes
I tend to lose my thoughts
Don't forget your stare
Oh what was that you said
Would you let me know
'Cause I can't read your mind
Oh can you tell
I can't even explain
Oh baby I can't even explain
What am I supposed to do
It's hard to stay cool
When you smile at me
And I get nervous every time you speak
Oh, standing by your sister fair
How long am I supposed to wait
I think about you nightly
Oh can you tell I'm losing sleep
What am I supposed to do
It's hard to stay cool
When you smile at me
And I get nervous every time you speak
My bed's too big for just me
When you turn your eyes
I promise I won't care
Standing by your sister fair
Oh baby baby baby please
My heart sinks to my feet
What am I supposed to do
I think about you nightly
My bed's too big for just me
When you turn your eyes
I promise I won't care
Standing by your sister fair
Standing by your sister fair
Standing by your sister fair
When I look into your eyes
I tend to lose my thoughts
Don't forget your stare
Oh what was that you said
Would you let me know
'Cause I can't read your mind
Oh can you tell
I can't even explain
Oh baby I can't even explain
What am I supposed to do
It's hard to stay cool
When you smile at me
And I get nervous every time you speak
Oh, standing by your sister fair
Lyrics submitted by randyl20, edited by RamuneDrink
Can You Tell Lyrics as written by John Ryan Pike Alexandra Nicole Lawn
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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timing is everything caught this song right when i just noticed my lack of sleep has everything to do with my bed being too big for just me
what does the "sister fair" mean?
The line is "standing by your sister fair," so "fair" is an adverb.<br /> <br /> Reference dictionary.reference.com/browse/fair<br /> Definition #19, "straight; directly, as in aiming or hitting"<br /> <br /> In the context of this song, he has emotional and physical barriers between him and his interest. Emotionally, he doesn't want everyone to know his feelings for her until he knows how she feels (can you tell?). Physically, he cannot approach her at this moment because she's already engaged in conversation with her own sister, but she keeps glancing his way. So, he is trying to wait for an opportunity to talk to her privately.
Love this song. It's exactly how I feel... So catchy too!
i'm in love with this song. it's so catchy and the lyrics describe exactly how i feel about this one guy. the funny thing is, that same guy showed me this song(:
That is SOO ironic, I feel this exact way about a guy too...and he gave me this song haha
haha, the same thing happened to me too :)
maybe he's bein subtle then. Get it
a guy that likes ra ra riot? sounds like a keeper
Lovely, sums up the feelings one has when they are in love with someone. "It's hard to stay cool when you smile at me" love it
So in love with this song. Perfectly explains the complexity of how messed up things can get when you care for someone. It honestly warms my heart that there is someone who posted 12 minutes before me... just proves how this song stabs the whole lack of sleep issue right in the heart.
I smile everytime I hear this.
when i first heard it i was driving so i didn't hear all the lyrics but my first impression was he wanted to sleep with his girlfriend but she wouldn't do it because she was abstinent or wanted to wait or something, in turn making him wait. reading the lyrics and listening to the song on youtube, i'd say Vball has it right
I love this song :) I agree with most of the meanings, but I'm also curious what they mean by sister fair!
i adore this song. at first i thought it was just a typical "unrequited" love song.. but did anyone else pick up the vibe that maybe the singer (in the song) is possibly in a relationship/engaged/married to one girl... and possibly in love with her sister?
"when you turn your eyes.." (maybe the girl he really loves realizes this but feels guilty, doesn't want to let on--ignores it) "your sister fair" --- the girl he's currently with but doesn't love.
hah, that's just me :)