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.
The sun came up and five years gone
Life goes on, yeah, life goes on
I wonder how you're gettin' by
The sun goes down and I feel blue
Now I toss 'cause my mind's on you
And I kinda miss your broken smile
Save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I remember you and me
Lost and young and dumb and free
And unaware of years to come
Just a whisper in the dark
On the pavement in the park
You taught me how to love someone
So save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
When we walk into the sun
Or burn below for what we've done
Will you still call out for me
Turn to light or fade to black
You don't look back, no, you don't look back
And what you meant not want to see
But save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
The sun goes down and five years gone
Life goes on, yes life goes on
I hope you caught up with your dreams
I hope you saved part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Save part of yourself for me
Life goes on, yeah, life goes on
I wonder how you're gettin' by
The sun goes down and I feel blue
Now I toss 'cause my mind's on you
And I kinda miss your broken smile
Save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I remember you and me
Lost and young and dumb and free
And unaware of years to come
Just a whisper in the dark
On the pavement in the park
You taught me how to love someone
So save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
When we walk into the sun
Or burn below for what we've done
Will you still call out for me
Turn to light or fade to black
You don't look back, no, you don't look back
And what you meant not want to see
But save part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
The sun goes down and five years gone
Life goes on, yes life goes on
I hope you caught up with your dreams
I hope you saved part of yourself for me
Won't you save part of yourself for me
Save part of yourself for me
Lyrics submitted by jesusfreak04
Save Part of Yourself Lyrics as written by Phillip John Hanseroth Brandi M. Carlile
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the 'general' meaning of the song is quite obvious. It's this person (A) who looks back on a first relationship and hopes the ex (person B) will always have a special spot for them in their heart.
The part I'm unsure about is whether it's wishful thinking, hoping or wishing for a second chance -which is how I personally see it- or if it's a story of acceptance or the refusal to accept the ending of a relationship.
The specific part that I am wondering about is this:
When we walk into the sun Or burn below for what we've done Will you still call out for me Turn to light or fade to black You don't look back, no you don't look back At what you might not wanna see
So save part of yourself for me
Now these are a number of thoughts and interpretations that have gone through my mind.
Wishful thinking interpretation: "When we walk into the sun" could be seen as a happy ending
"or burn below for what we've done, will you still call out for me" could be interpreted as the extreme biblical burning in hell for what they've done (many interpretations possible; forbidden love, sex before marriage, getting a divorce, however you want to see this), and person A hoping they'll still be the one the ex calls out for even in the afterlife, the whole 'forever' deal. It could also be interpreted in a sexual way; "or burn below for what we've done" a reference to the physical sensation of masturbation/having sex/thinking about sex and "will you still call out for me" the question if the ex will call out the name of, or remember person A during orgasm.
"Turn to light or fade to black" in this interpretation is the question if person B will choose the happy ending as refered to earlier, or if they will let it fade to black, never getting back together.
"You don't look back, no you don't look back, at what you might not wanna see" is the expression of doubt as person A wonders if they can get back together; even though person A hopes for a second chance, they wonder or assume it might not be the same for person B. If person B doesn't share person A's view on their relationship, it would be something they might not even want to look back on which would be the cause for the previously mentioned part of fading to black.
"So save part of yourself for me" is then again the expression of wishful thinking, person A hoping that person B saves at least a little bit of themselves for them so there's still a chance.
Or my 2nd interpretation of closure/acceptance:
"When we walk into the sun" in this case would mean moving on, walking out into the world, either alone or together.
"Or burn below for what we've done, wil you still call out for me" could again be the biblical interpretation or the sexual interpretation. It could also be seen as dealing with heartache or regret on either side (that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach) instead of moving on.
"Turn to light" could be seen as acceptance, closure, finally moving on whereas "or fade to black" could be seen as wallowing in the heartache, giving into depression and being ubable to move on
"You don't look back, no you don't look back, at what you might not wanna see" could be seen as not wanting to look back at the ending of the relationship because looking back would prevent the person from being able to move on which is what they are trying to do. It could also be not wanting to look back on the relationship because then it would be painfully obvious why it didn't work out; the person isn't ready to face that reality yet, hasn't come to the point of acceptance so they instead choose to ignore it by not looking back.
"So save part of yourself for me" could then be either person A moving on but still hoping person B will look back fondly on the relationship, or person A clinging to that last bit of hope that they are still in some way in person B's heart, because person A hasn't reached that point of acceptance and closure yet.