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've got a house in the back of my head
But I can't find a permanent resident
'Cause the market's down
And the area's not so good these days
I've got a watch but I don't have time
I've got a road and it leads to decadence
But a dead end sign waits down the line
I leave my footprints for the evidence
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
More long days and fleeting nights
I tell them, "Wake me under flashing lights"
'Cause I'm a brand name bought and sold
(Sold, sold, sold)
They say a face for fame is a crying shame
Because to face the crowd is to play the game
And I can play a little too rough
Now and again (every now and again)
You drank the poison and I let you in
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?
You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
But I can't find a permanent resident
'Cause the market's down
And the area's not so good these days
I've got a watch but I don't have time
I've got a road and it leads to decadence
But a dead end sign waits down the line
I leave my footprints for the evidence
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
More long days and fleeting nights
I tell them, "Wake me under flashing lights"
'Cause I'm a brand name bought and sold
(Sold, sold, sold)
They say a face for fame is a crying shame
Because to face the crowd is to play the game
And I can play a little too rough
Now and again (every now and again)
You drank the poison and I let you in
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?
You drank the poison and I, I let you in
Would you trade that heart of gold for a minute in my skin?
So take my life, I'll hand it to you
And you can try on my clothes
But you can't fill these shoes
On a silver platter your wish came true
So your heart of gold turned platinum
You can take my life (oh)
But you can't take it with you
Lyrics submitted by singusasong, edited by liniwa
Poison Lyrics as written by Jack Bassam Barakat David Jonathan Bendeth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think he's saying that no matter how glamourous the fame looks it's poison, and it's extremely hard work. no matter how easy you think it looks you can imitate him but you'll never be able to fill his shoes and understand what they go through. idk haha i'm kind of guessing. also i think he's asking if you'd honestly want to trade the simple, easy life just to have a moment in his skin.
he's saying fame isn't what he thought it was.
I think, based on recent interviews, that this song is about all the "haircut" bands that make it on appearance and not on talent.
The chorus, in my opinion, describes it perfectly. Because all of these bands are just getting their fame handed to them, and not having to work for it. They're going straight to the top, getting a-list treatment, while other bands have to work for their fans and their fame ("So take my life, I'll hand it to you"). And then once all of these "haircut bands" have their fame, it's still not the same as the bands who have to work for it. Because the haircut bands...there's nothing behind the music. They're writing it just to write it, and that's it. It's just empty words, and they never really get the respect that other bands have, and they tend to be more of a fad (You can try on my clothes, but you can't fill these shoes"). I also think that "See a heart of gold turn platinum" means that now that these bands who have been handed everything get famous, they don't know what to do with the attention and let it get to their heads, whereas the bands that work for it tend to be more grounded.
And then the part that goes, "Would you trade this heart of gold for a minute in my skin?", I think means that it's more important to write music that you love, and stay true to yourself and your band, rather than lust after the fame.
But that's just my take on it. I don't think that the band wrote it about themselves.
Thankyou. That's all I can say. I 100% agree with you.
I'm pretty sure the line should be:
"See a heart of gold turn platinum."
this is the best song on np. this is what they need to be evolving into.
i agree so much theycameforannahh, i wish np as a whole sounded more like this song.
pretty sure its "see a heart of gold turned black, no you can take my life.."
soo... basically he got what he wanted (fame) and now he doesn't want it and he's trying to tell us that fame isn't as fun as it looks
right...?
soo... basically he got what he wanted (fame) and now he doesn't want it and he's trying to tell us that fame isn't as fun as it looks
right...?
Im so confused.
i agree with everyone. this album would be great if it sounded like this. this is the all time low i fell in love with. meaningful lyrics, same sound. just more mature.
i think its about him reaching fame, thinking it would be great, but he is starting to see that its not what he expected. and when everyone is envying him he doesnt understand why, because no one is going throught what they are going through. and no one see's the side they see (but you cant fill these shoes)
fame is obviously the poison, and i think he sees that.