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.
Yesterdays, how quick they change
All lost and long gone now
It's hard to remember anything moving at the speed of sound
Moving with the speed of sound
And yet I'm still holdin' tight to this dream of distant light
in that somehow I'll survive
But this night has been a long one
Waiting on a sun that just don't come
Can I forgive what I cannot forget
And live a lie?
I could give it one more try
Why deny this drive inside, just looking for some peace
Every time I get me some it gets the best of me
I'm not much left, you see
And yet I'm still holdin' tight to this dream of distant light
And that, somehow I'll survive
But this night has been a long one
Waiting on a word that never comes
A whisper in the dark
Is that you or just my thoughts
I'm wide awake and reaching out
It's gone so quiet now
Could it be I'm farther out?
Movin' faster than the speed of sound
All lost and long gone now
It's hard to remember anything moving at the speed of sound
Moving with the speed of sound
And yet I'm still holdin' tight to this dream of distant light
in that somehow I'll survive
But this night has been a long one
Waiting on a sun that just don't come
Can I forgive what I cannot forget
And live a lie?
I could give it one more try
Why deny this drive inside, just looking for some peace
Every time I get me some it gets the best of me
I'm not much left, you see
And yet I'm still holdin' tight to this dream of distant light
And that, somehow I'll survive
But this night has been a long one
Waiting on a word that never comes
A whisper in the dark
Is that you or just my thoughts
I'm wide awake and reaching out
It's gone so quiet now
Could it be I'm farther out?
Movin' faster than the speed of sound
Lyrics submitted by Backspacer
Speed of Sound Lyrics as written by Eddie Vedder
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
great and magical song, with incredible lyrics. gives me chills everytime i listen to it!
It's a great song. Especially at 1:05, when the E-Guitar kicks in. Music from the heart :-). I'm getting goosebumps every time I listen to that song.
The song is obviously about living with regrets. The lyrical subjest can't forgive himself committing the same mistakes ("Every time I get me some it gets the best of me"). They led to beeing left by somebody, preferably by partner(or he have repeated them towards some more former partners. Then it would have more sense, considering that he wants to give himself another chance). Now alone ("It's gone so quiet now"), he's longing after her ("A whisper in the dark/Is that you or just my thoughts"). In the end he also notices becoming a recluse.
These are my three cents. Great song, wonder how it'll sound on the album. One more: Sorry for my english:).
for me this song is about reaching enlightenment, unity conciousness. from the lyrics of which eddie wrote the lyrics I think he had some revelations about absolute truth and wisdom. I think he knows that there is only one truth, that our thoughts and the way we experience things are illusions in the end...when you ask yourself the right questions, they all disappear. yesterday and tomorrow only exist in our illusory minds. If you see through your illusions, they all will fall apart and what remains is truth, enlightenment. Enlightenment is that distant light that he tries to reach. He knows that this absolute light and wisdom exists en that his experiences from the past, his thoughts and feelings about them get in the way to reach enlightenment, to see things clearly just as they are, to realize the one true self. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, light is ultimate wisdom. He is asking himself questions whether he will reach that point of unity conciousness that seems so far away.
"Why deny this, drive inside, just looking for some peace Every time I get me some it gets the best of me
Not much left, you see"
He knows that you have to break down your ego-mind structure to get there, so less and less of your identity, who you think you are, remains left. It is a very hard and painfull path when you know you live a lie, know that there is a higher being, but you can't seem to break through your conditioned mind to rest in that peace and be free of judgement, duality, etc.
there is a lots of different depts in this song, each person will take exactly that message that fits for that particlar person.
Truely amazing, beautiful, flowing where it needs to go...
Wow! annemarel you are AMAZING!
Wow! annemarel you are AMAZING!
Wow! annemarel you are AMAZING!
Wow, great lyrics. I hadn't happened to me in a long time that I could actually relate to a pearl jam song. At first the melody is hard to digest, but once you've listen to it a couple of times it becomes somewhat normal and easy to follow. I agree with Elkoboldo, it becomes a better tune when the electric guitar comes in; it's just magical and emotional. Let's hope the version on the record keeps the same magic as this one. Regarding the meaning, I think it's about life and how fast it moves, and how people sometimes cannot move on with their lives and still hold on so strongly to their past lives, whether it is positive or negative.
Received my copy of Backspacer in the mail yesterday. Having listened to Ed's solo version dozens of times already, I was partial to that one. But, listening to the version on the album has been an interesting experience, the song has a slightly different feel. The music is a bit warmer, and it really fills you up and evokes different emotions than Ed's version. Definitely a case study in how music affects the meaning of the lyrics. Its a tough call, I love them both.
Beautuful song. Different Pearl Jam
The 6/8 time races this thru. Amazing flow for a song that comes across as a ballad. Almost like a major key, more wandering version of i am mine. This new album is the shit. The lyrics are so great in every song. I'm still figuring this one out, but like almost any vedder lyrics they seem to have multiple meanings, the literal giving way to metaphors hidden just beneath, with even deeper broad themes tying it all together. beautiful
For me, this song represents a loss you simply cannot do something about. The loss of a loved one, and there's just no hope of getting that person back into your life. If it's a girlfriend who left, a family member who died, just a person of great importance that simply won't come back for any reason, and all the questions one is usually is left with... "A whisper in the dark, is that you or just my thoughts, wide awake and reaching out.... It's gone so quiet now, could it be i'm farther out, moving faster than the speed of sound...?" Strong words.
I dont like the Backspacer version much but the acoustic demo version floating around is incredible :D