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.
Old Master had a leper for a child,
left him to fend for himself in the wild.
They laughed at him every time he went to town,
so he kept to himself and he seldom came around.
He Loved life and he loved his kin,
but he didn't understand why they didn't love him.
Slept out in a shed all alone,
and all he ever wanted was some friends of his own.
The field hands saved him,
took him in and raised him,
taught him about love and struggle and patience.
They gave him the family comfort he was craving;
he worked when they worked and he sang when they sang.
He sang so clear and so loud
that the masters and their children could hear him from the house
They recognized his voice and ran out,
everybody want to know what the ruckus all about.
(chorus) Preach on Mr. Preacher man.
Everybody want to hear what you have to say.
Stand tall, speak loud, boy, that's the way,
These songs are yours, bring us a brand new day.
He said “Good Lord I been waiting so long,
“for ya'll to come out and take me in the home.
“The world's so cold with no place to belong.”
They said, “come on in boy, sing us a song.”
He stepped inside,
and to his surprise,
it was so damn fly,
he cant believe his eyes.
He ate and he drank and he felt satisfied
till he sat by the window and he glanced outside...
...loved ones out working...
...his eyes got full and his heart start hurting,
cause them folk been singing for years and ain't never one of them set foot up in here.
Hold up.
How y'all get so much,
living off of folks like us that got it so rough?
The way you hold them in your cold clutch,
makes me think that you don't love your own souls enough.
(chorus) x2
Closed his eyes as he sang every note,
the ones he was taught and the ones that he wrote.
Stood up, cleared his throat, grabbed his coat;
in those last moments a few words was spoke:
“I used to peek at this old house and all,
“imagine what it must be like and all,
“and this the finest spread these eyes ever saw,
“but I don't mind saying I feel sorry for y'all.
“All that gettin', so little giving
“let a lot of y'all forget what's missing.
“Built you a big pretty prison to sit in,
“Strut around here convinced that that's living.
“But we going to keep on singing,
“keep on soldiering,
“keep on building,
“keep on teaching,
“keep on listening,
and keep keeping on till the whole thing's different.”
In his shed the sun started to set.
He said all his prayers and lay down his head.
Everything was said that he needed to say,
And one of these mornings we'll wake up to a brand new...
(chorus) x2
left him to fend for himself in the wild.
They laughed at him every time he went to town,
so he kept to himself and he seldom came around.
He Loved life and he loved his kin,
but he didn't understand why they didn't love him.
Slept out in a shed all alone,
and all he ever wanted was some friends of his own.
The field hands saved him,
took him in and raised him,
taught him about love and struggle and patience.
They gave him the family comfort he was craving;
he worked when they worked and he sang when they sang.
He sang so clear and so loud
that the masters and their children could hear him from the house
They recognized his voice and ran out,
everybody want to know what the ruckus all about.
(chorus) Preach on Mr. Preacher man.
Everybody want to hear what you have to say.
Stand tall, speak loud, boy, that's the way,
These songs are yours, bring us a brand new day.
He said “Good Lord I been waiting so long,
“for ya'll to come out and take me in the home.
“The world's so cold with no place to belong.”
They said, “come on in boy, sing us a song.”
He stepped inside,
and to his surprise,
it was so damn fly,
he cant believe his eyes.
He ate and he drank and he felt satisfied
till he sat by the window and he glanced outside...
...loved ones out working...
...his eyes got full and his heart start hurting,
cause them folk been singing for years and ain't never one of them set foot up in here.
Hold up.
How y'all get so much,
living off of folks like us that got it so rough?
The way you hold them in your cold clutch,
makes me think that you don't love your own souls enough.
(chorus) x2
Closed his eyes as he sang every note,
the ones he was taught and the ones that he wrote.
Stood up, cleared his throat, grabbed his coat;
in those last moments a few words was spoke:
“I used to peek at this old house and all,
“imagine what it must be like and all,
“and this the finest spread these eyes ever saw,
“but I don't mind saying I feel sorry for y'all.
“All that gettin', so little giving
“let a lot of y'all forget what's missing.
“Built you a big pretty prison to sit in,
“Strut around here convinced that that's living.
“But we going to keep on singing,
“keep on soldiering,
“keep on building,
“keep on teaching,
“keep on listening,
and keep keeping on till the whole thing's different.”
In his shed the sun started to set.
He said all his prayers and lay down his head.
Everything was said that he needed to say,
And one of these mornings we'll wake up to a brand new...
(chorus) x2
Lyrics submitted by monofeo
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,