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.
Live through the ages
Witness my friends rust and turn to ash
Break down in phases
And yet my skin is perfect glass
I have kept this portrait in pristine care
I have kept my secret well
Until the day comes when the loneliness
Is, oh, too much to bear
Would you embrace me with open arms?
Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Turn back the time
To the fearless boy I was so long ago
She is love, she is filth
She can destroy my soul
Would you embrace me with open arms?
Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Intellect in itself is a mode of exaggeration
An artist should create beautiful things
But should put nothing of his own life into them
The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it
If the cave man had known how to laugh
History would have been different
I have kept my portrait clean
I have kept my secret well
Now the day has come
The sun has burned away
Follow me, follow me, follow me, follow me
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Witness my friends rust and turn to ash
Break down in phases
And yet my skin is perfect glass
I have kept this portrait in pristine care
I have kept my secret well
Until the day comes when the loneliness
Is, oh, too much to bear
Would you embrace me with open arms?
Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Turn back the time
To the fearless boy I was so long ago
She is love, she is filth
She can destroy my soul
Would you embrace me with open arms?
Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Intellect in itself is a mode of exaggeration
An artist should create beautiful things
But should put nothing of his own life into them
The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it
If the cave man had known how to laugh
History would have been different
I have kept my portrait clean
I have kept my secret well
Now the day has come
The sun has burned away
Follow me, follow me, follow me, follow me
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell
Take me away, pick a side and place a bet
Dorian Gray, have you something to sell?
I've got your bodice and your dress
Lyrics submitted by Draven3110
Dorian Gray Lyrics as written by William Roy Francis
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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."
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Proper formatting to save the day! This song is about Dorian Gray, the man who sold his soul so that his painting of himself would age instead of him.
Live through the ages Witness my friends rust and turn to ash Break down in phases And yet my skin is perfect glass
I have kept this portrait in pristine care I have kept my secret well Until the day comes when the loneliness Is, oh, too much to bear
Would you embrace me with open arms? Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell Take me away, pick a side and place a bet Dorian Gray, have you something to sell? I've got your bodice and your dress
Turn back the time To the fearless boy I was so long ago She is love, she is filth She can destroy my soul
Would you embrace me with open arms? Would you encase me in a picture of my heart?
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell Take me away, pick a side and place a bet Dorian Gray, have you something to sell? I've got your bodice and your dress
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell Take me away, pick a side and place a bet Dorian Gray, have you something to sell? I've got your bodice and your dress
Intellect in itself is a mode of exaggeration An artist should create beautiful things But should put nothing of his own life into them
The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it If the cave man had known how to laugh History would have been different
I have kept my portrait clean I have kept my secret well Now the day has come The sun has burned away Follow me, follow me, follow me, follow me
Dorian Gray, already headed to hell Take me away, pick a side and place a bet Dorian Gray, have you something to sell? I've got your bodice and your dress