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.
My king I'm humble before you
I doubt
Moves like you're pulled by the moonlight
Somehow
Oooh
How is a language we're speaking the same
Shapeshifter have you discovered
A change
Why does the sound
I got control
I doubt
Moves like you're pulled by the moonlight
Somehow
Oooh
How is a language we're speaking the same
Shapeshifter have you discovered
A change
Why does the sound
I got control
Lyrics submitted by RPunk13, edited by outofmy0mind, pacer135
Shape Shifter Lyrics as written by Kelcey Paul Ayer Andrew Jeffrey Hamm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Not drugs.
"your eyes, they swell like a riot, deranged tomorrow you're laughing like a child again"
Means quick mood shifts: today the person is sad, crying so his/her eyes swell, tomorrow careless again. All human beings truly are shape shifters, always changing their mind, their opinions, their preferences. Second line of the song, "moods like you're pulled by the moonlight" references to human thoughts as tidal waves, controlled by external factors.
Just because the word hallucinate is mentioned doesn't mean it's about drugs.
I kind of get a spiritual vs physical dialogue out of this. It's our soul that defines us, not our physical shape, therefor the mirror doesn't really reflect us. When we follow the spiritual aspect, we change outwardly, shapeshifting, as it were.
I take it as a fight between the ego and the subconscious, he is humbled by knowing and practicing what feels right (probably Buddhism) but randomly shape shifting at the egos command (as most people do), then feeling guilty for doing so. He's wanting to change but not sure how too let go.
Is this song about a friend who's holding a grudge and is super moody? Or is it about trying to change yourself?
i think its about trying to change. like a dr. jeckyll and mr. hyde kind of thing. the lines "why does the soul hallucinate" and "the mirrors don't reflect my face" suggest that he is not himself at times. but thats just my take on it.
I think it has something to do with drug use. He see's his good friend destroying their self.
This is totally about drugs. Trippy word choice, imagery and temporality all contribute to the fact that this is a drug song.
The chorus is a good place to start: "Why does the soul hallucinate? I've got control, I shift my shape." The first referring to the genuine wonderment while tripping that tripping is possible. Then the insecurity of tripping must lead to the affirmation of control over the body through the mind, in that the mind can go so far as to change ones shape. This kind of control is only possible through tripping.
"your eyes, they swell like a riot, deranged; tomorrow you're laughing like a child again": While tripping, the eyes are one place the mind materializes its trip as dilated pupils are a dead give away. Tomorrow (temporal factor), once the trip is over, we'll all be laughing about how much fun we had doing simple child like things (that tend to happen on a trip).
Totally agree hands down
Totally agree hands down
One of my favorite Hum songs mainly because of just how melodic it is, one of their most slow songs and the ending is just so nice.