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.
I'm not your nervous feeling
Each time we say goodnight
You picture buildings burning to the ground
From the basement in the street light
I'm not your drinking problem
A hole is in the sky
Its not your heart that you've you been thinking of
Just the feeling like you're going to die
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
I'm not your paranoia
When someone's at the door
There's a fast calling out of a throat of a body rising through the floor
I'm not your fortune teller
I'm not your spirit guide
I'm never like you
Uncomfortable to
This is starting to fuck with my head
All I have to do is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Don't you realize you're fine
Or can't you see that you're fine
And you know you're still alive
You know that you're still alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Right in the sky
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Each time we say goodnight
You picture buildings burning to the ground
From the basement in the street light
I'm not your drinking problem
A hole is in the sky
Its not your heart that you've you been thinking of
Just the feeling like you're going to die
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
I'm not your paranoia
When someone's at the door
There's a fast calling out of a throat of a body rising through the floor
I'm not your fortune teller
I'm not your spirit guide
I'm never like you
Uncomfortable to
This is starting to fuck with my head
All I have to do is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Don't you realize you're fine
Or can't you see that you're fine
And you know you're still alive
You know that you're still alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Right in the sky
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Lyrics submitted by unobstructedviews, edited by TyTheGuy
Don't Move Lyrics as written by Sarah Barthel Joshua Carter
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To me, this sounds like it's about fear of the finality of death. I'm not your nervous feeling, each time we say good night - nervousness that it might be the last time You picture buildings burning to the ground, from a basement in the streetlight - you're imagining worst case scenarios, that are irrational
The title of the song, Don't Move, could be part of this as well, asking her not to move at all, for fear the worst may happen to her. it could also, instead be alluding to the chorus, presumably the person she addresses saying all they know how to do is shake out of nervousness, and replying ti keep their body still.
The last verse is pretty self explanatory. you're ok, don't fret, you're still alive, celebrate the fact instead of dwelling on what could happen.
I agree with you. When I first heard this song, last year, I happened to be struggling with the resurgence of a severe anxiety disorder, mostly brought on by the fear of death and the unknown, and I found just about every line to be very relatable.
I agree with you as well, except for my interpretation on the chorus. I felt that the shaking was a way to stay awake or to remind her that she is alive, and he's telling her not to move so she will calm down.
I think it's about an emotionally abusive relationship. When people are so paranoid, like the person she describes in the song, they'll often blame outside forces for their problems, never admitting that they have a problem. She seems to be telling him that no, she's not his paranoia, not his doomsday, he needs to just calm down and realize that the world is not coming to an end, and she can't be there to keep him in line all the time while all she does is get blamed.
This sounds to me as though she's with someone who only keeps her around because the person has this idea that being with someone will bring them out of their depression. "I’m not your nervous feeling," "I’m not your drinking problem," She's basically saying that she's not this person's coping method. The chorus also enforces this idea, "All I have to do is shake shake Keep your body still Keep your body still" She's the one who's doing all the work, having all the fun, but the other person isn't putting any effort into the relationship. Then, "Don’t you realize you’re fine Or can’t you see that you’re fine And you know you’re still alive" is her telling this person that they don't need her.
All you know how to do is shake, shake Keep your body still, keep your body still All you do is shake, shake, shake Keep your body still, keep your body still
To me this song is about her "true" self. Her best self talking about the person she tends to indulge in. She's telling herself from her best perspective that these things she/he deals with isn't the real you. So don't worry so much. Just shake it off and live life. It's that tug of war between the person you desire to be vs the person you've been.
She's not those things that she may currently or has dealt with. She's trying to get herself to let go of the old patterns. Let it go and don't have shame about it.
"Don’t you realize you’re fine Or can’t you see that you’re fine And you know you’re still alive You know that you’re still alive Why don’t you know you’re alive Why don’t you know you’re alive Right in the sky"
Someone dealing with an alcoholic. whether it be themselves or some else.
To me, these lyrics are describing someone's alcohol withdrawals, and detoxing. Seriously scary shit
Sooo good - love the bridge, especially. :D
The EP will obviously be amazing
it is. (:
To me, this feels like a song about someone suffering from mental illness, trying to calm herself.
Love the opposing urgency of telling yourself both to 'shake shake shake', like keeping yourself loose, but then 'keep your body still', like telling yourself to not lose control. Gotta balance both, it's not good to be too stiff but it's also not good to be too loose.