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.
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it all right but
then sometimes you don't
oh-ho-ho!
A boy with a dream and a man with a song
Man says to boy, "You'd better push it along."
And the boy replies,
"Don't tell me what to do,
this is my dream that's the size of your shoe."
Boy talks back, but he wants to be a man
Boy's just scared cause he doesn't have a plan
Man tells boy one piece of advice,
"If you want the whole pie first have one slice."
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Boys and girls need all of their time
but this time is clearly special
oohho
Boys and girls need all the time they have
to reach the potential of their present tense I now present the girl
Girl wants to be a woman with the dance
Woman tells girl that she doesn't have a chance
Girl talks back,
"I'll do what i choose! This is my dream I got nothin' to lose."
Girl wants it but she doesn't practice
Only exercise she gets is on a mattress
with the boy that wants to be a man
spending whole days just forgetting their plans
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Don't have to burn you down __ __
now that I really care
You don't have to keep it all inside
and shoulder the weight that you bear
sometimes sometimes sometimes sometimes sometimes (x14) (you get it right away, you have to fight for it, you get it right then but then sometimes you don't, oohho)
We all been told that we're nothing when we were younger
Some go and gather and some become the hunters
But no matter what the implications
can't always listen to the older generations
Look at these two who didn't have a chance
Kept to their goals and each other in advance
Now they listen to the man song and the boy and the girl that the woman danced on
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it all right but
then sometimes you don't
oh-ho-ho!
A boy with a dream and a man with a song
Man says to boy, "You'd better push it along."
And the boy replies,
"Don't tell me what to do,
this is my dream that's the size of your shoe."
Boy talks back, but he wants to be a man
Boy's just scared cause he doesn't have a plan
Man tells boy one piece of advice,
"If you want the whole pie first have one slice."
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Boys and girls need all of their time
but this time is clearly special
oohho
Boys and girls need all the time they have
to reach the potential of their present tense I now present the girl
Girl wants to be a woman with the dance
Woman tells girl that she doesn't have a chance
Girl talks back,
"I'll do what i choose! This is my dream I got nothin' to lose."
Girl wants it but she doesn't practice
Only exercise she gets is on a mattress
with the boy that wants to be a man
spending whole days just forgetting their plans
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Don't have to burn you down __ __
now that I really care
You don't have to keep it all inside
and shoulder the weight that you bear
sometimes sometimes sometimes sometimes sometimes (x14) (you get it right away, you have to fight for it, you get it right then but then sometimes you don't, oohho)
We all been told that we're nothing when we were younger
Some go and gather and some become the hunters
But no matter what the implications
can't always listen to the older generations
Look at these two who didn't have a chance
Kept to their goals and each other in advance
Now they listen to the man song and the boy and the girl that the woman danced on
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Sometimes you get it right away
Sometimes you have to fight for it
Sometimes you get it right then but
I wanna hear you say
Lyrics submitted by CrisMusic
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
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.