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.
I got this great idea about why I got stuck in reverse
I was so out of control it just got worse
I hope you got more sense than I, side step the curse
I don't know which came first
In the spiral threatening my survival
It's come, time to get down
It's time to get down
Boots to the ground
Know we don't stop 'til they hear the bell sound
Keep your head up
Cause the truth just cut
No quick fix when I'm caught in a rut
What I got to do to get right size
Think I'm despised when I look through the eyes
Of another
Not mine to discover
What the next man think is none of my fucking business
And then I say what is this
Illusion I can't fix it
You name it, hey
The story stays the same
Any trouble you can name
Just goes straight into accepted
You name it, hey
It's time to get down
To the ground
So simple yet profound
In the now
Is why we're here
Inspiration
I've been waiting all my life
I'm set free, it's happened
I won't look back and think twice
It's how it's meant to be
Something's happened
A sudden slap in the right place
In my face, I thank you
You always came through for me
It's how it's meant to be
Gonna get down because I can't stay high
All of the time, cause I see the sign
So I re-align with an open mind
Adamant and circumvent
I get by every night and day
Get by with my comfort way
An Open space to an open way
I just unwind, I just unwind
And then I say what is this
Illusion I can't fix it
You name it, hey
The story stays the same
Any trouble you can name
Just goes straight into accepted
You name it, hey
It's time to get down
To the ground
So simple yet profound
In the now
Is why we're here
Inspiration
I've been waiting all my life
I'm set free, it's happened
I won't look back and think twice
It's how it's meant to be
Something's happened
A sudden slap in the right place
In my face, I thank you
You always came through for me
It's how it's meant to be
I was so out of control it just got worse
I hope you got more sense than I, side step the curse
I don't know which came first
In the spiral threatening my survival
It's come, time to get down
It's time to get down
Boots to the ground
Know we don't stop 'til they hear the bell sound
Keep your head up
Cause the truth just cut
No quick fix when I'm caught in a rut
What I got to do to get right size
Think I'm despised when I look through the eyes
Of another
Not mine to discover
What the next man think is none of my fucking business
And then I say what is this
Illusion I can't fix it
You name it, hey
The story stays the same
Any trouble you can name
Just goes straight into accepted
You name it, hey
It's time to get down
To the ground
So simple yet profound
In the now
Is why we're here
Inspiration
I've been waiting all my life
I'm set free, it's happened
I won't look back and think twice
It's how it's meant to be
Something's happened
A sudden slap in the right place
In my face, I thank you
You always came through for me
It's how it's meant to be
Gonna get down because I can't stay high
All of the time, cause I see the sign
So I re-align with an open mind
Adamant and circumvent
I get by every night and day
Get by with my comfort way
An Open space to an open way
I just unwind, I just unwind
And then I say what is this
Illusion I can't fix it
You name it, hey
The story stays the same
Any trouble you can name
Just goes straight into accepted
You name it, hey
It's time to get down
To the ground
So simple yet profound
In the now
Is why we're here
Inspiration
I've been waiting all my life
I'm set free, it's happened
I won't look back and think twice
It's how it's meant to be
Something's happened
A sudden slap in the right place
In my face, I thank you
You always came through for me
It's how it's meant to be
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Inspiration I've been waiting all my life I'm set free, it happened I won't look back and think twice It's How it's meant to be Something's happened A sudden slap in the right place In my face, I thank you You always came through for me It's how it's meant to be WOW! i was overwhelmed the first time i heard this. firstly, i feel the lyrics here are a bit off. between 311's lyric page, this one, and hearing the actual song, though, you can get a good idea of what the guys were trying to portray. i think it's interesting to note this is a bonus track. look at this from the POV of Nick. i believe the song speaks to the inspiration that is received in performance and the energy felt by 311 in it's purist environment:on stage. this album displays their talents in a new light, down to musical harmonic perfection (thanks to Bob) and encourages growth. one line i do want to point out that i see to be off: "and then i say what is this illusion? i CAN fix it, hey. just go straight into 'accept it' " and think about Nick's newborn daughter, Echo, as his inspiration in this song and it takes on a different kinda look, no better or worse, just a new spin :)