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.
Hair, you're gone
Your hair is done
Ma'am, your child is grown
You're old
Bruno was a classic
Leg, you're pale
Your hair is made of legs
Ma'am, your leg is pale
You're done
Bruno was a classic
There is no relation
Between soul and body
Your heart was my mouth
And your mouth was my planet
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Hair, you can't do math
Do math, do math, ooh, ooh, ooh
Bruno was a classic
There is no relation
Between soul and body
Your heart was my mouth
And your mouth was my planet
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
I never knew you
I never knew you
I never knew you
I never knew you
I'm sick of never being able to get to anyone
Not even you, no, no, no, not even you
We look at each other in the eye
We smile at one another
But it's always the same thing
We never even know each other's name
I never knew you, no, no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no, no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no no
I never knew you
I never knew you, oh
I never knew you
Your hair is done
Ma'am, your child is grown
You're old
Bruno was a classic
Leg, you're pale
Your hair is made of legs
Ma'am, your leg is pale
You're done
Bruno was a classic
There is no relation
Between soul and body
Your heart was my mouth
And your mouth was my planet
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Hair, you can't do math
Do math, do math, ooh, ooh, ooh
Bruno was a classic
There is no relation
Between soul and body
Your heart was my mouth
And your mouth was my planet
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
Help me, put me back together
I never knew you
I never knew you
I never knew you
I never knew you
I'm sick of never being able to get to anyone
Not even you, no, no, no, not even you
We look at each other in the eye
We smile at one another
But it's always the same thing
We never even know each other's name
I never knew you, no, no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no, no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no no
I never knew you
I never knew you, no no
I never knew you
I never knew you, oh
I never knew you
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
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Bruno (1548-1600) was a mathematician who was considered a martyr by later mathematicians for his belief in the existence of a plurality of worlds and other opinions contrary to the catholic church.
Leibniz (1646-1716) was a mathematician who discovered infinitesimal calculus independent from Newton (1642-1727). Leibniz notation uses a long S to denote integrals, while Newton developed convenient notation for first and second-order derivatives known as dot notation. Leibniz managed to publish his theories earlier than Newton by nine years.
Calculus involves the act of slicing things up and putting them back together. A planet is composed of many hearts.
As a whole, this song could be interpreted as a monologue by Leibniz to Newton. The punctuation of "Bruno was a classic!!!" a reference to prior art, and its abruptness could reflect the tension added by the accusation of plagiarism. The chorus seems to describe the different perspectives from which the two mathematicians approached their theories of calculus, and bemoans the fact that Leibniz had a difficult time reestablishing himself after the plagiarism controversy.