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.
Walked when I shoulda run
Ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
You get inside me
Even when you went beside me
And I go into hiding
And I know I never leave it alone
'Nother round of if onlys
Of all the ways you can know me
How I take time going slowly
All the time that I did on my own
Still I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Well I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
And your head's in the ocean
Too deep to know where you're going
Hoping time can be frozen
And you'll end up where you really belong
But the days keep on rolling
We live in different moments
And our hurt is unfolding
Everyday that we do and we don't
Still I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Well I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I, don't I, don't I, know it
No no no no no
Sign for what's been
Sign for what never
The line under what's been
The line for what never
And the years are collected
I pray that we are regretless
You and I - the connected
You and I and the blood and the bone
Ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
You get inside me
Even when you went beside me
And I go into hiding
And I know I never leave it alone
'Nother round of if onlys
Of all the ways you can know me
How I take time going slowly
All the time that I did on my own
Still I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Well I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
And your head's in the ocean
Too deep to know where you're going
Hoping time can be frozen
And you'll end up where you really belong
But the days keep on rolling
We live in different moments
And our hurt is unfolding
Everyday that we do and we don't
Still I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I know it
Well I walked when I shoulda run
And I ran when I shoulda walked
And don't I know it
And don't I, don't I, don't I, know it
No no no no no
Sign for what's been
Sign for what never
The line under what's been
The line for what never
And the years are collected
I pray that we are regretless
You and I - the connected
You and I and the blood and the bone
Lyrics submitted by theboydetective, edited by killstar
Shoulda Lyrics as written by John O'kane Jamie Woon
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sentric Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is about a relationship that is now over and describes most beautifully and painfully the emotions when you should have been with someone forever but you aren't. Not due to lack of love but due to mistakes which starts the song:
Walked when I shoulda run Ran when I shoulda walked And don't I know it And don't I know it (he didn't act when he should have and acted when he should have, and he realizes that now)
You get inside me even when you ain't beside me And I go into hiding And I know I never leave it alone (he still thinks of her even if they aint together, and he tries to hide from this feeling, but he knows he will never forget her)
'Nother round of if onlys Of all the ways you could know me How I'd take time going slowly Over time that I did on my own (and that is what he thinks, 'if only'. How he should have taken time to deal with things slowly instead of doing nothing 'time on his own')
And your head's in the ocean Too deep to know where you're going Hoping time can be frozen And you'll end up where you really belong (here i think it speaks as a whole, how ur head is a mess and you wish time to be frozen so things can clarify in your head and fix it and be together with the person you should be instead of the next verse:
But the days keep on rolling We live in different moments And our hurt is unfolding Everyday that we do and we don't (time is not frozen and their lives are passing in different ways with different people, but they are hurt no matter if they do or they dont - like they cant be together and that hurts them and they cant be not together and that hurts them too, so no matter what they do its still hurt)
Sign for what's been Sign for what never The line under what's been The line for what never (and the end is a summary - to move on and sign for the deeds they done and what they've had and the things that wont happen for them in the future)
And the years are collected I pray that we are regretless You and I - the connected You and I and the blood and the bone ( and the years that will go by with them not together, he hopes they dont regret their decision not to be together, because they were soulmates which sadly didn't work it out - you and i the blood and the bone)
That is how i see that amazing song translating