They said the timing was dreadful
(Yeah, you could say that again)
Now there is one pair of heads full
(Of thoughts that don't make any sense)
Just passing through, trying to catch that glimpse of you
I never hold on when I change
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
But if grace receives all my weight
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
It's splintered, and I felt horrendous
(Lying through the gap in my teeth)
When broken, is when You can mend us
(So help me get back up on my feet)
Just passing through, trying to catch that glimpse of you
I never hold on when I change
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
But if grace receives all my weight
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
I'm staring longer than I know I should be
I can't believe you're standing next to me
I never hold on when I change
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
But if grace receives all my weight
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
I will stand taller than before
I will stand taller than before
Taller than before
(Yeah, you could say that again)
Now there is one pair of heads full
(Of thoughts that don't make any sense)
Just passing through, trying to catch that glimpse of you
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
(Lying through the gap in my teeth)
When broken, is when You can mend us
(So help me get back up on my feet)
Just passing through, trying to catch that glimpse of you
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
I can't believe you're standing next to me
Terminals at ATL
It's a balance of grace
In a place where I tripped and fell
Then it becomes a crutch
And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much
That I can't stand taller than before
I will stand taller than before
Taller than before
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His ex-fiance used to be a radio host in Atlanta. Sounds like after the breakup... just passing through Atlanta, maybe hoping to see her. Also, the Atlanta airport is one of the largest in the world. There are a bunch of terminals and you can either take a tram to your terminal or walk through. No one ever walks through, but if you do there is a bunch of sculptures and art to look at as you walk. If you walk the entire way it's like 2-3 miles I think. So I think this song is referencing walking through the empty terminals, contemplating everything about the breakup and not being able to get over his ex-fiance. Pretty sad song.
As far as the meaning... he realizes he messed up, and saying he has to accept grace to get over his mistake. But he doesn't want to keep having to fall back on grace, he wants to become a better person.
One of my favorites on the new CD.
I like how this song, as the ending track on the album, ties in with the beginning track, Forget And Not Slow Down with the Atlanta Airport reference. Like at the beginning of Forget and Not Slow Down there is the recording of the Atlanta Airport tram (the Concourse B as in Bravo bit) and then in Terminals the whole song is in reference to the same airport. It's like the lyrics are opening up the issue at the start of the album and then trying to close the same issue off at the end of the album. Or something.
Interesting song :)
It may or may not be obvious for NA residents. But, What does ATL stand for ?
an airport in Atlanta? .. or all time low. haha.
an airport in Atlanta? .. or all time low. haha.
I think it's supposed to be, "but if grace receives all my weight," not "waste." :)
I love the sound of this song (with Adam Young of Owl City). And yes, it is "all my weight," not waste.
Thanks for the correction, i've fixed it up : )
It's...
"I never hold on when I change Terminals at ATL"
It's in reference to the tramcars between terminals of the ATL airport. Sort of like subway cars, they are very difficult to stand with balance as they move, and if you don't hold on to any of the handles, you could fall flat on your face.
"It's a balance of grace In a place where I tripped and fell"
It fits with what SwimAndy013 referred to, and I agree with them on the entire meaning. The place he "tripped and fell" would be Atlanta, or ATL. He's talking about standing his ground in a place where he failed to once before, theoretically.
Also, it's...
"Well I, I'm staring longer than I know I should be I can't believe you're standing next to me"
All the time, he's been "trying to catch that glimpse of you." In his disbelief that he can now still stand when seeing this person, he stares, essentially gawks.
"But if grace receives all my weight Then it becomes a crutch And I don't wanna walk with a crutch so much That I can't stand taller than before"
The grace is his new-found balance and acceptance. However, he wants to move on with his life, forget about the past (his crutch), and essentially "stand taller than before" the person was ever in his life to begin with.
I've always wondered what that line was! That makes perfect sense "I never hold on when I change."
I've always wondered what that line was! That makes perfect sense "I never hold on when I change."