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.
So I traveled far to Boston
With that suitcase on the plane
And I looked up a professor
I said "teach me my real name
And he said "no, no
I don't have the words to teach you
So I drove to California
With that suitcase in my car
And I found the wisest doctor
I said, "doctor, help me sir
And he said "no, no, no, no, no
I don't have a pill to fix you
So I ran up to Montana
With that suitcase on my back
And I found the last live poet
I said, "show me what I lack
And he said "no, no, no, no, no, no, no
This is not a song to heal you
Holy Heart
So I walked to Arizona
Searching for my oldest friend
I said "friend, I'm getting tired
Could you hold me till the end
But he had a job, and a car, and a wife
To start a family of his own
And I don't know who could blame him
But it shook me to my bones
When he said "no." He said "no
I don't have the time to hold you
Holy Heart
So I crawled back to Wisconsin
Trying to find a piece of home
And I walked up to my pastor
I said "God, I'm so alone
He said "well have you been praying the way that we pray
And have you been going the places we go?" I said "no
And he said "no, no, no, no, no, no, no
This is not a home to house you
Holy Heart
So I flew right up to heaven
With that suitcase left behind
And I walked those streets of gold
Until I looked God in the eye
He said "son, you're looking tired
But there's one more thing to ask
Do you believe in what you're preaching
That the first will be the last
And I said "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Everything I've done has been for you
Holy Heart
With that suitcase on the plane
And I looked up a professor
I said "teach me my real name
And he said "no, no
I don't have the words to teach you
So I drove to California
With that suitcase in my car
And I found the wisest doctor
I said, "doctor, help me sir
And he said "no, no, no, no, no
I don't have a pill to fix you
So I ran up to Montana
With that suitcase on my back
And I found the last live poet
I said, "show me what I lack
And he said "no, no, no, no, no, no, no
This is not a song to heal you
Holy Heart
So I walked to Arizona
Searching for my oldest friend
I said "friend, I'm getting tired
Could you hold me till the end
But he had a job, and a car, and a wife
To start a family of his own
And I don't know who could blame him
But it shook me to my bones
When he said "no." He said "no
I don't have the time to hold you
Holy Heart
So I crawled back to Wisconsin
Trying to find a piece of home
And I walked up to my pastor
I said "God, I'm so alone
He said "well have you been praying the way that we pray
And have you been going the places we go?" I said "no
And he said "no, no, no, no, no, no, no
This is not a home to house you
Holy Heart
So I flew right up to heaven
With that suitcase left behind
And I walked those streets of gold
Until I looked God in the eye
He said "son, you're looking tired
But there's one more thing to ask
Do you believe in what you're preaching
That the first will be the last
And I said "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Everything I've done has been for you
Holy Heart
Lyrics submitted by godspeedicarus
Holy Heart (Fall '08 Tour EP) Lyrics as written by Erik Neave
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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