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.
when hawks glide underwater
and salmon replace the unborn
the forgotten will rise from the oceans
nests of kelp all strewn in their horns
and whispering
"please take us back. please take us back. we've learned our lessons."
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless snow
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless bones
and white fanged foreverness
bare footed wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
and here on this pile of shell
i call out
to the pods all gathered like thunderheads
under-in our hands
crying with your songs like a peaceful death
please teach us release
teach me release
cause' kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless snow
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless bones
and white fanged foreverness
barefooted wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
and here on this pile of driftwood
i will
carefully string up
stick by stick
thin by thick
bit by bit
rib by rib
rib by rib
rib by rib
rib by rib
until a marble of you dances and chants
"in perfect balance take me back.
in perfect balance take me back.
i've learned my lesson."
and white fanged foreverness
barefooted wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
and salmon replace the unborn
the forgotten will rise from the oceans
nests of kelp all strewn in their horns
and whispering
"please take us back. please take us back. we've learned our lessons."
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless snow
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless bones
and white fanged foreverness
bare footed wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
and here on this pile of shell
i call out
to the pods all gathered like thunderheads
under-in our hands
crying with your songs like a peaceful death
please teach us release
teach me release
cause' kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless snow
and kate will break in down here
without your seasons and fearless bones
and white fanged foreverness
barefooted wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
and here on this pile of driftwood
i will
carefully string up
stick by stick
thin by thick
bit by bit
rib by rib
rib by rib
rib by rib
rib by rib
until a marble of you dances and chants
"in perfect balance take me back.
in perfect balance take me back.
i've learned my lesson."
and white fanged foreverness
barefooted wilderness
green tangled gills need rest
and we can be forever blessed
we can be forever blessed
if we take the back roads like you said
if we take the back roads
Lyrics submitted by lady-c
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i think the 'unborn' she refers to in this could be all the generations of native americans who were cut off after families were massacred. the idea of kate wolfe coming back to this earth is a fantasy she has in this song that will happen at the end of time, only when these shifts take place and everyting is ready. some kind of ritual.