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.
[Psiklone]
I take life for granted made mistakes in the past
Don't want to harbour so much hate in my heart [You feel me?]
Found my way through dark
And only by closing my open eyes and taking a chance
I wanna make my family proud
And show those that I love that I ain't standing round
I hate backing down, hate lashing out
Hate that I hate so much - what is this hate rant about?
I don't wanna be this negative person
Pessimistic, perfectionist obsessively working
Always anxiety ridden
It's like my mind's in Rhyme Asylum inside of a prison
It's a blessing and a curse
I just want us heard to get the respect that we deserve
I need to stop and breathe
Cos in reality there ain't nothing stopping me be what I wanna be
[Chorus]
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
[Possessed]
I'ma go it alone, on my own rowing this boat,
No-one to throw me a rope
Feel like I'm lost at sea
Tryna make waves, on this endless expanse of monotony
And I gotta be what I wanna be
Or else it's like telling my heart not to beat
Telling my lungs not to breathe
Inspirations an island just beyond my reach
Chances are few and far between
On an ocean with nowhere to plant my seeds
And you reap what you sow
It's getting dark, I keep an eye on my beacon of hope
Hope in every vein and capillary
My message in a bottle is my name on the pages of history
I got two ores
One named determination and the others name is ability
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
[Skirmish]
This me ain't the way that I wanna be
Now I know its the way that I gotta be
I've had my heart broken before
Another persons actions controlling my emotions and thought
Love is a battlefield - I'm a soldier at war
People saying "I don't know him no more"
The old me's dead and gone, I got away with murdering him
So my split personality holding the fort
Now I gotta look deep, my older said
Don't regret anything that makes you smile that's how it should be
And so I took heed
Now I love my life, a different guy but miss the nights I could sleep
Thinking isn't it funny
I used to be in control but I'm driven by women and money
In this eternal search for a pot of gold
Where I've lost my soul and my hearts gotten cold
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
I take life for granted made mistakes in the past
Don't want to harbour so much hate in my heart [You feel me?]
Found my way through dark
And only by closing my open eyes and taking a chance
I wanna make my family proud
And show those that I love that I ain't standing round
I hate backing down, hate lashing out
Hate that I hate so much - what is this hate rant about?
I don't wanna be this negative person
Pessimistic, perfectionist obsessively working
Always anxiety ridden
It's like my mind's in Rhyme Asylum inside of a prison
It's a blessing and a curse
I just want us heard to get the respect that we deserve
I need to stop and breathe
Cos in reality there ain't nothing stopping me be what I wanna be
[Chorus]
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
[Possessed]
I'ma go it alone, on my own rowing this boat,
No-one to throw me a rope
Feel like I'm lost at sea
Tryna make waves, on this endless expanse of monotony
And I gotta be what I wanna be
Or else it's like telling my heart not to beat
Telling my lungs not to breathe
Inspirations an island just beyond my reach
Chances are few and far between
On an ocean with nowhere to plant my seeds
And you reap what you sow
It's getting dark, I keep an eye on my beacon of hope
Hope in every vein and capillary
My message in a bottle is my name on the pages of history
I got two ores
One named determination and the others name is ability
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
[Skirmish]
This me ain't the way that I wanna be
Now I know its the way that I gotta be
I've had my heart broken before
Another persons actions controlling my emotions and thought
Love is a battlefield - I'm a soldier at war
People saying "I don't know him no more"
The old me's dead and gone, I got away with murdering him
So my split personality holding the fort
Now I gotta look deep, my older said
Don't regret anything that makes you smile that's how it should be
And so I took heed
Now I love my life, a different guy but miss the nights I could sleep
Thinking isn't it funny
I used to be in control but I'm driven by women and money
In this eternal search for a pot of gold
Where I've lost my soul and my hearts gotten cold
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Don't make me be, don't make me be
Lyrics submitted by str8lowlife
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.