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.
St. Peter's cathedral, built of granite
Ever fearful of the answer
When the candle in the tunnel
Is flickering and sputters and fading faster
It's only then that you will know
What lies above or down below
Or if these fictions only prove
How much you've really got to lose
At St. Peter's cathedral, there is stained glass
There is a steeple that is reaching
Up towards the heavens
Such ambition, never failing to amaze me
It's either quite a master plan
Or just chemicals that help us understand
That when our hearts stop ticking
This is the end and there's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
Ever fearful of the answer
When the candle in the tunnel
Is flickering and sputters and fading faster
It's only then that you will know
What lies above or down below
Or if these fictions only prove
How much you've really got to lose
At St. Peter's cathedral, there is stained glass
There is a steeple that is reaching
Up towards the heavens
Such ambition, never failing to amaze me
It's either quite a master plan
Or just chemicals that help us understand
That when our hearts stop ticking
This is the end and there's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
(There's nothing past this)
There's nothing past this
Lyrics submitted by thrushave, edited by Mellow_Harsher
St. Peter's Cathedral Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
I love this song, even though I am Christian. The lyricism is clearly atheist or agnostic. I am not saying that the building itself is the true essence of the symbolism, I'm just saying that if you are religious, or spiritual person, you will eventually realize that supernatural forces exist, and that intelligence requires codes and keys [pun intended]. Intelligent design or God is within us. It's no use to look for it with physical eyes, it's spiritual, it requires faith. How many people come into the realization of God in their death bed...
Anyway, beautiful lyrics, and even better instrumentals, and probably my favorite song of the album as well, but I take it, entertainment for the uplifting vibe it provides. "Imagine" by John Lennon is very uplifting, but it's an atheist and/or agnostic song as well.
The reason why I believe so are the lines I find the most powerful of the song:
"Ever fearful of the answer" (what is the answer? So the artist claims to have it on the song? Although there's no credible authority)
"Or if these FICTIONS only prove How much you've really got to lose" (The candle can also be a metaphor for the sparkle of life, as it fades, you're dying, only then you truly contemplate or not above your life on earth, and the "afterlife." But this is biased because saying that rather you realize if there is heaven or hell, or if it's just a product of our imagination should be mentioned in a way that is impartial. The message dismisses heaven or hell by calling it "fictions." And saying "how much you really got to lose" infers that physical life on earth as we know it is all there is.
"Such ambition never failing to amaze me" (here the message is making a mockery out of religion, because it sounds sarcastic.)
"Or just chemicals that help us understand That when our hearts stop ticking This is the end And there's nothing past this" (Is this the answer? The idea and concept that the message wants to leave in the listeners mind is that after life there is nothing. So live your life for life itself. Whatever aspirations, remorse, and consequence you may ponder about start and end in this life. Thus implying that there is no God.)
This is why I think this song is atheist, and its lyrics should be taking with a grain of salt for they are infused with biased suggestion.