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.
Oh, patient spider, spin a web for me
What right do I have to ruin your home?
What right do they have against me?
Oh, distant mother, what do you ask of me?
When you look at me, do I mirror youth?
Or do my plans corrupt your sleep?
But I'm glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
Not at all
Not at all will these days blend into one another anymore
Oh, quiet moonlight, dim the streets for me
So when I walk at night, no one notices my practices of relief
Oh, patient spider, we can share my window sill
What right do I have to ruin your home?
What right do I have to kill?
Glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
Not at all
Not at all will these days blend into one another anymore
Glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
What right do I have to ruin your home?
What right do they have against me?
Oh, distant mother, what do you ask of me?
When you look at me, do I mirror youth?
Or do my plans corrupt your sleep?
But I'm glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
Not at all
Not at all will these days blend into one another anymore
Oh, quiet moonlight, dim the streets for me
So when I walk at night, no one notices my practices of relief
Oh, patient spider, we can share my window sill
What right do I have to ruin your home?
What right do I have to kill?
Glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
Not at all
Not at all will these days blend into one another anymore
Glad now the days are getting shorter
And that she doesn't bother me no more
I spent nights awake until the sunrise
And that doesn't bother me anymore
Not at all
Lyrics submitted by eltroyo11
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This song holds a special place in my heart, because the meaning is super super deep. It actually changed the way I think about everything in the world upon hearing it when it came out last year. Especially when I see a little spider or a bug just hanging around my window or the house. I'll guide it out, but I will never kill another creature intentionally.
I guess the idea of the song is the use of the metaphor of a spider, a commonly hated creature, with one of the most common phobias being related to them. But in actuality, is killing a spider on your window worth it? What did the spider do to you? Do you really think it knew it invaded your home? Of course, not. Most people will go out of their way to kill a spider, but in the end, the spider is harmless - the spider will be very peaceful and will coexist (let's exclude black widows and tarantulas and stuff, though). Most common household spiders in basements/etc. only bother you if you bother them. Why kill the spider? Why even both the spider? Coexist with it. The spider doesn't realize it's in your home. It's built it's home in yours, but it doesn't mean any harm or offense.
"Oh patient spider, we can share my windowsill. What right do I have to ruin your home? What right do I have to kill?" This lyric hits me the most. What right does anybody have to kill? We all have a right to what we believe in and we all have a right to be alive - nobody should be allowed to take it from us.
The spider metaphors apply to everyday society and the ills of war/homicide/genocide/etc.. We all deserve to be alive. The chorus is about how he's finally realized that the spider means no harm, and he's ready to coexist with it. It doesn't bother him anymore. It used to keep him up at night while he was realizing this, perhaps (or maybe there's some deeper meaning in the whole "spent nights awake" bit.
Overall, it's just about living with things you don't necessarily want to live with, because things aren't really as bad you want to perceive them to be.