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.
It always had to look good
It always had to be perfect
It always had to look easy
So tell me now was it worth it?
You stand in the doorway
With a bag full of words that you can't say
Your distant eyes on the tv
Your distant eyes won't see me
But it's written across the blue skies
You're scared to stumble and realise
That underneath the cover
We're all as frail as eachother
We're all as frail as eachother
Everybody knows
You're falling and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
It doesn't have to look good
And you don't have to be perfect
It doesn't even have to be easy
No, if you're open it's worth it
Your hand in your pocket
I watch you stuggling to stop it
From getting out in the open
Your heart's desire awoken
But it's written in shallow waters
Your hand is taking its orders
From someone scared to discover
That we're all as mad as eachother
We're all as mad as eachother
Everybody knows
You're breaking and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
Your body's a mirror
No words could say it clearer
Like silent poems on your forehead
That turn dishonest and sordid
And there's only one thing you can do
Let it live and let it through
It's time to open...
Everybody knows
You're falling and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
It always had to be perfect
It always had to look easy
So tell me now was it worth it?
You stand in the doorway
With a bag full of words that you can't say
Your distant eyes on the tv
Your distant eyes won't see me
But it's written across the blue skies
You're scared to stumble and realise
That underneath the cover
We're all as frail as eachother
We're all as frail as eachother
Everybody knows
You're falling and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
It doesn't have to look good
And you don't have to be perfect
It doesn't even have to be easy
No, if you're open it's worth it
Your hand in your pocket
I watch you stuggling to stop it
From getting out in the open
Your heart's desire awoken
But it's written in shallow waters
Your hand is taking its orders
From someone scared to discover
That we're all as mad as eachother
We're all as mad as eachother
Everybody knows
You're breaking and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
Your body's a mirror
No words could say it clearer
Like silent poems on your forehead
That turn dishonest and sordid
And there's only one thing you can do
Let it live and let it through
It's time to open...
Everybody knows
You're falling and it shows
Nothing stays where nothing grows
And everybody knows
Lyrics submitted by nowxisxforever
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.