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 was born, the devil's son
Yes my dad, he gave my name
Now my mama keeps saying
Run to the desert
You will see be all that you need to be
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
I woke up to the shadow of a man standing over me
Here in the land of frozen hands
I came out here to kill you father like a Sergio Leoni picture
Gee I hope you understand
And as the red soaked the sand
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
Run to the desert
You will be all that you need to be
Yes my dad, he gave my name
Now my mama keeps saying
Run to the desert
You will see be all that you need to be
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
I woke up to the shadow of a man standing over me
Here in the land of frozen hands
I came out here to kill you father like a Sergio Leoni picture
Gee I hope you understand
And as the red soaked the sand
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
Run to the desert
You will be all that you need to be
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These were on the official website, but let me know if they're wrong.
In short, this song is amazing. The music is of dream-like quality, especially the quietness of the guitar at 4:09 onwards, as the song is brought down.
The meaning? I'll take a shot in the dark, but I think it's about finding yourself, life beckoning beyond the front door, freeing yourself from the suppression of family influences - infused with an air of teenage rebellion. Definitely something everyone can relate to.
The desert talked about could refer to personal privacy, solitude for one to be able to breathe and make decisions without anyone trying to sway you or make you believe otherwise.
I think that there's a rather dark undertone to this song, as well. In the chorus, there's echo-ey vocals that I think say, "Help me, I'm at a boyfriend's", though I could be wrong. Not to mention the shadow of a distant scream at 4:26. These together could be contradictory to the meaning above, almost like a warning: sure, you're freeing yourself of supression and pressure by running to the desert, but things happen and people take advantage of you while you are in that solitary state of being.
Anyway, that's just what I think. Feel free to contradict.
I'm pretty sure at the echoey parts they're actually saying "Hail Mary, full of Grace". It makes sense because Jesus is mentioned several other times in the album. Especially in Janglin' where he says that the are bringing the message of "The man from Galilee"