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 disappear with all your good intentions
And all I am is all I could not mention
Like who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
She took a plane to somewhere out in space
To start a life and maybe change the world
See I never meant for you to have to crawl
No I never meant to let you go at all
Oh, no
Oh, no
Don't ever say goodbye
See my head aches from all this thinkin'
Feels like a ship god, god knows I'm sinkin'
Wonder what you do and where it is you stay
These questions like a whirlwind, they carry me away
Who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
Who will I belong to when the day just won't give in
And who will tell me how it ends and how it all begins
Oh, no
Oh no
Don't ever say goodbye
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm human I'm human I'm human
Yeah oh,
Yeah, oh
And all I am is all I could not mention
Like who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
She took a plane to somewhere out in space
To start a life and maybe change the world
See I never meant for you to have to crawl
No I never meant to let you go at all
Oh, no
Oh, no
Don't ever say goodbye
See my head aches from all this thinkin'
Feels like a ship god, god knows I'm sinkin'
Wonder what you do and where it is you stay
These questions like a whirlwind, they carry me away
Who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
Who will I belong to when the day just won't give in
And who will tell me how it ends and how it all begins
Oh, no
Oh no
Don't ever say goodbye
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm human I'm human I'm human
Yeah oh,
Yeah, oh
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
To me this song isn't necessarily about death, it's about something way more general that a lot more people could relate to. I think it's about loneliness and unintentionally pushing someone away because of an inexplicable emotional unavailability.
You disappear with all your good intentions And all I am is all I could not mention Like who will bring me flowers when it's over And who will give me comfort when it's cold
He had someone who was close to him but he kept pushing her away. He'd been hurt before so that's why he wasn't able to let her in. So after a while of her trying to come close, she saw that he just kept pushing her away and decided to stop trying. He didn't mean it though, he just didn't have the courage to say a lot of things and to tell her how much she meant to him and now that she left he regrets not saying those things. Now he wishes she could be beside him to be happy with him when he gets through a rough patch or to comfort him when he's going through a tough situation.
She took a plane to somewhere out in space To start a life and maybe change the world See I never meant for you to have to crawl No I never meant to let you go at all Oh, no Oh, no Don't ever say goodbye
After trying and trying to get close and always having the feeling that he doesn't want it, she stopped trying and left him alone. She preferred helping someone who appreciated her help, not knowing that so did he but he wasn't able to show it. He never meant for her to feel like she wasn't doing enough or like her help went unnoticed, but because he'd built an emotional wall, she interpreted it as apathy and ungratefulness. He never wanted her to leave him.
See my head aches from all this thinkin' Feels like a ship god, god knows I'm sinkin' Wonder what you do and where it is you stay These questions like a whirlwind, they carry me away
Now without her he feels like he's alone. He's got no one by his side and all he does is overthink. He thinks of the mistakes that he's made and how he made her feel and it's heavy on him, he feels like he's sinking. He's bringing himself down with all the thoughts and questions that he has. Maybe she's better off without me, where is she now? What would she do if she were here with me? All these thoughts eat him alive and so does the loneliness that he feels. Now he realizes how much he really needed her.
Who will bring me flowers when it's over And who will give me comfort when it's cold Who will I belong to when the day just won't give in And who will tell me how it ends and how it all begins Oh, no Oh no Don't ever say goodbye
He needs someone to be with him through thick and thin. He needs someone to share his life with, to help him make decisions, to love him when he isn't able to love himself. He needs someone to make sense of everything when he can't make sense of it. Someone who will see things clearer for him and help him.
I'm only human I said I'm only human I'm only human I said I'm only human I'm only human I said I'm only human I'm human I'm human I'm human Yeah oh, Yeah, oh
He realizes that he's made a lot of mistakes, but he is only a human. And humans make mistakes, they are flawed. But humans also need each other because they can't do it all alone. He needs her desperately. He needs someone beside him to go through life with him because he feels that alone, he wont make it.