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.
Dear friend of mine has broken his union
Broke from tradition
Broken his vision of the future
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine is testing his body
Tempting disaster
Testing water with another's daughter
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine, my ear is bending
I'm not helping
I'm not telling
I'm not solving
I'm not saying you're pretending
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine is helpless without helping
Healed without scab or scar
New union found him alone
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
If you've got no kind words to say
Carry no weight
Let the weight carry you
If you've got no kind words to say
Carry no weight
Let the weight carry you
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
Broke from tradition
Broken his vision of the future
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine is testing his body
Tempting disaster
Testing water with another's daughter
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine, my ear is bending
I'm not helping
I'm not telling
I'm not solving
I'm not saying you're pretending
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Dear friend of mine is helpless without helping
Healed without scab or scar
New union found him alone
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
Alone alone alone
Not alone at all
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
If you've got no kind words to say
Carry no weight
Let the weight carry you
If you've got no kind words to say
Carry no weight
Let the weight carry you
If you've got no kind words to say
You should say nothing more at all
Lyrics submitted by today,iamsam, edited by ElleDriver
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I'm sorry but i don't think that what he is saying is
If you've got no kind words to say You should say nothing more at all
But instead
If you've got no kind words to say You should say nothing MORTAL
The singer has a friend that is messing around with somebody he doesn't care for, tempting disaster
Dear friend of mine is testing his body Tempting disaster Testing water with another’s daughter
He doesn't want to get involve, and even though it is physically showing his rejection for their union, and he defends himself on it
Dear friend of mine, my ear is bending I'm not helping I'm not telling I'm not solving I’m not saying you’re pretending
Here is where it can get tricky, there might be a deep scar on the friend that he doesn't care about the consequences, and even though he is united with somebody, he is still alone
Dear friend of mine is helpless without helping Healed without scab or scar New union found him alone
Here is the singer excuses to not get involve, he doesn't want to damage his friendship and carry that weight with him, let it be is his resolution. So when he is saying You Should Say Nothing Mortal, he is talking to himself.
If you’ve got no kind words to say Carry no weight Let the weight carry you
Amazing song! It was fun analyzing it, but that's what my interpretation of it :-)