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.
The businessmen are drinking my blood
Like the kids in art school said they would
And I guess I'll just begin again
You say, "can we still be friends?"
If I was scared
I would
And if I was bored
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
All the kids have always known
That the emperor wears no clothes
But they bow to down to him anyway
'Cause it's better than being alone
If I was scared
I would
And if I was bored
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now you're knocking at my door
Saying, "please come out with us tonight"
But I would rather be alone
Than pretend that I feel alright
If the businessmen are drinking my blood
Like the kids in art school said they would
Then I guess I'll just begin again
You say, "can we still be friends"
If I was scared
I would
And if I was pure
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now, I'm ready to start
If I was scared
I would
And if I was pure
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now, I'm ready to start
Now, I'm ready to start
I would rather be wrong
Than live in the shadows of your song
My mind is open wide
And now I'm ready to start
Now I'm ready to start
My mind is open wide
And now I'm ready to start
You're not sure you'll open the door
To step out into the dark
Now I'm ready
Like the kids in art school said they would
And I guess I'll just begin again
You say, "can we still be friends?"
If I was scared
I would
And if I was bored
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
All the kids have always known
That the emperor wears no clothes
But they bow to down to him anyway
'Cause it's better than being alone
If I was scared
I would
And if I was bored
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now you're knocking at my door
Saying, "please come out with us tonight"
But I would rather be alone
Than pretend that I feel alright
If the businessmen are drinking my blood
Like the kids in art school said they would
Then I guess I'll just begin again
You say, "can we still be friends"
If I was scared
I would
And if I was pure
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now, I'm ready to start
If I was scared
I would
And if I was pure
You know I would
And if I was yours
But I'm not
Now, I'm ready to start
Now, I'm ready to start
I would rather be wrong
Than live in the shadows of your song
My mind is open wide
And now I'm ready to start
Now I'm ready to start
My mind is open wide
And now I'm ready to start
You're not sure you'll open the door
To step out into the dark
Now I'm ready
Lyrics submitted by MaxpowerSupreme, edited by mattisyourhero, kiwilyrics, Coach
Ready to Start Lyrics as written by Regine Chassagne Jeremy Gara
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Skybox has it right; I'll go a little farther.
First, I respect Arcade Fire for writing this song to sound, on the surface, like a song about a romantic break up. It's only when you listen more closely that you realize it's not.
It's about a band or musician that has been burned by their management/record label, and is striking out on their own.
The facts:
It's about a relationship with an authority figure:
"All the kids have always known That the emperor wears new clothes But to bow to down to them anyway Is better than to be alone"
The "kids in art school" predict that signing up with a record label means that "businessmen will drink my blood"
None of these lyrics make sense in terms of a song about a romantic relationship.
The record label tries to keep the band/musician from leaving, saying that, despite whatever it was that the label did to betray or sell out the musician: "we can still be friends", or they send invites to record label parties: "please come out tonight".
To which the singer replies:
"If I was scared I would And if I was pure You know I would And if I was yours But I'm not"
This is the most romantic-sounding part of the song, but in reality, the singer is saying that, if he was scared of leaving the label, he would cave in. Or if he was "pure" - i.e., didn't hold a grudge, he would forgive them. But he's not either of these things, and he refuses to "live in the shadows of your song" i.e., conform to the record label's "creative views" - he's ready to start on his own.