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.
She's got a little house in town
I sometimes go around, there
To see her
And she let me deep inside
I sing her love songs
But she'll turn a blind eye
'Cause she ain't the sentimental type
I keep my heart in my pocket and I hold
I hold it tight
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
Through it all
Through it all
Her skin is softer than the bluest eyes
Mmmm, with the warmth that I need
Gives me a place
To hide
From the streetlights burning through the bedroom window
Oh honey, shadows, yeah there's loneliness we cling to
When the morning comes
We'll go, we'll go our separate ways, here
Ain't no magic, my dear, ain't no reason to stay
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
Through it all
Through it all
And we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
Yeah we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
And we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only lonely
Only lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
No, no, no, no
Only 'cause we're lonely
Lonely here
Lonely
Lonely here
I sometimes go around, there
To see her
And she let me deep inside
I sing her love songs
But she'll turn a blind eye
'Cause she ain't the sentimental type
I keep my heart in my pocket and I hold
I hold it tight
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
Through it all
Through it all
Her skin is softer than the bluest eyes
Mmmm, with the warmth that I need
Gives me a place
To hide
From the streetlights burning through the bedroom window
Oh honey, shadows, yeah there's loneliness we cling to
When the morning comes
We'll go, we'll go our separate ways, here
Ain't no magic, my dear, ain't no reason to stay
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
I know that she don't mind if I
Go away and I don't call
I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all
Through it all
Through it all
And we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
Yeah we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
And we fall through empty corridors
And we talk in our useless metaphors
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
Only lonely
Only lonely
Only 'cause we're lonely
No, no, no, no
Only 'cause we're lonely
Lonely here
Lonely
Lonely here
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
On one of Ben's other songs, a user was sharing his/her interpretation of the song, and they mentioned the Ben had a girl-friend that committed suicide. I don't know if this is true or not, but since hearing that i have connected alot of Ben's lyrics with suicide. It seems that almost all of his songs are written about someone he is in love with, that he can not be with.
To me, this song is about him and a girl, who are both emotionaly wounded from something, so they find comfort in being intimate with each other.
The verse of the song is pretty straight forward. There is a girl that he goes to have sex with when he i feeling lonley- "She's got a little house in town I sometimes go around, there To see her And she let me deep inside" He tries to show her emotional live, but she turns him down because she wants nothing more that a physical relationship- "I sing her love songs But she'll turn them blind Like she ain't the sentimental type" He agrees to keep it strictly physical- "I keep my heart in my pocket and I hold I hold it tight"
The chorus is saying they are not in love, they only come around when they need comfort- "I know that she don't mind if I, Go away and I don't call I know that she don't mind if I'm absent through it all" "Her skin is softer than the bluest eyes With the warmth that i need"
In the second verse, he is saying that being with her is a way of forgetting or 'hiding' from the ghosts of the women he truly loves- "Gives me a place To hide from the streetlights burning through the bedroom window" When they are apart 'in the shadows' they are both lonley but they still go their separate ways because they are not in a real relationship, there is no reason to stay together- "In the shadows yeah there's loneliness we cling to When the morning comes We'll go, we'll go our separate ways Ain't no magic here, ain't no reason to stay"
The song ends with him saying they live their lives feeling lonely without their true loves- "And we fall through empty corridors" But they never talk to each other about it, they talk in metaphors, avoiding fully admitting their loneliness- "And we talk in useless metaphors"
Again, this is just my interpretation of the song, i could be totally off. Ben is absolutely amazing, it brings tears to my eyes listening to the beauty of his lyrics.