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.
I saw a future, I saw me a way
Equal work, I thought, demands equal pay
I heard new music on the radio
I thought that gradual dissolution would be the way to go
Where was my brain?
Modern agriculture gave me a thrill
Until I saw the things it brutally kills
Modern architecture gave me a kick
Until I lived among the Brutalist bricks
Where was my brain?
With me all the time, getting it wrong again
All the suffering evened out in the end
Stars and scriptures had some things to portend
Thought that I could speak my mind but avoid a fight
I'd do it all and make sure everybody's doing alright
And we had the best in an imperfect world
We had the best of an imperfect world
We had the best the best the best
Where was my brain?
Equal work, I thought, demands equal pay
I heard new music on the radio
I thought that gradual dissolution would be the way to go
Where was my brain?
Modern agriculture gave me a thrill
Until I saw the things it brutally kills
Modern architecture gave me a kick
Until I lived among the Brutalist bricks
Where was my brain?
With me all the time, getting it wrong again
All the suffering evened out in the end
Stars and scriptures had some things to portend
Thought that I could speak my mind but avoid a fight
I'd do it all and make sure everybody's doing alright
And we had the best in an imperfect world
We had the best of an imperfect world
We had the best the best the best
Where was my brain?
Lyrics submitted by batrainbow
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Ted Leo frustrates me. I've been trying to like Ted and his Pharmacists for something like 20 years now. This whole album is an example of why I feel hypocritical when I call myself a fan: I simply do not ever really understand where he's coming from.
In my opinion this song is the best on the album, partially because it is so understandable. Clearly, this song is about looking back at previous decisions (youth?) and realizing that some of your actions and decisions were foolish.
1.) "I heard new music on the radio/I thought that gradual dissolution would be the way to go" attempting to appeal to more of the masses by increasing pop influence to his music when he should have stayed true to his own muse.
2.)"Modern agriculture gave me a thrill/Until I saw the things it brutally kills" This does not require interpretation - it is so painfully straightforward that I refuse to elaborate.
3.)"Modern architecture gave me a kick/Until I lived among the Brutalist bricks" Living in the cold, hard city has it's downfall. People are often lured to the city with it's skyscrapers and other 'modern architecture' only to realize that it's a dog-eat-dog world in the city.
4.) "All the suffering evened out in the end/Stars and scriptures had some things to portend" Uhhh... your guess is as good as mine, probably better.
5.) "Thought that I could speak my mind but avoid a fight/I'd do it all and make sure everybody's doing alright" This speaks to the classic mistake of youth... attempting to keep everyone happy - especially while pushing an agenda. This line works in so many ways that it is easy to come up with examples. A new manager who pushes his employees and then is surprised when they hate him, a young hippie who thinks he can change the world just by explaining his position to the right people, so many more.
Where was his brain? It was with him all the time, getting it wrong again! The fallacy of youth and inexperience viewed through the eyes of experience. (Hindsight is 20/20)