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.
You came here to tell me something
I already know
The dark before the dawn
Is the darkest I can go
The calm before the storm
Is what leaves me here to breathe
So breathe
Us of constant banging
Throwing fists against the wall
Screaming at the earth for what
It's done to one and all
I came here to tell you something
You already know
Just breathe
Breathe
How cruel I am to you
Cruel things I do
How cruel you were to me
How cruel time can be
I wrote you a book
But I left it out in the rain
Left it there to dry
But it got rained on once again
Us of constant banging
Throwing fists against the wall
Breathe
Breathe
How cruel you are to me
How cruel time can be
How cruel I was to you
How cruel the things I do
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
I already know
The dark before the dawn
Is the darkest I can go
The calm before the storm
Is what leaves me here to breathe
So breathe
Us of constant banging
Throwing fists against the wall
Screaming at the earth for what
It's done to one and all
I came here to tell you something
You already know
Just breathe
Breathe
How cruel I am to you
Cruel things I do
How cruel you were to me
How cruel time can be
I wrote you a book
But I left it out in the rain
Left it there to dry
But it got rained on once again
Us of constant banging
Throwing fists against the wall
Breathe
Breathe
How cruel you are to me
How cruel time can be
How cruel I was to you
How cruel the things I do
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
When you wake you'll know I'm gone
And where I'm going there's no one
So don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Don't follow me
Whatever you may hear or see
Lyrics submitted by Paronomasia
Breathe Lyrics as written by Laura Marling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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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,
I think this song is about breaking up a relationship (friendly or intimate) which is kind of explosive and went on for too long. Both of them were hurt because of that, and they have hurt each other. In this song I believe Laura appears to struggle with telling the other person she is breaking up, as she begins with these two lines:
"The dark before the dawn is the darkest I can go The calm before the storm is what leaves me here to breathe"
Then she recommends the other person to breathe, just as she does in the calm before the storm (i.e. the actual break up). I also think the relationship was explosive, which is rather self-explanatory with the sentences "Us of constant banging throwing fists against the wall" and "How cruel I am to you. How cruel things I do. How cruel you were to me".
I think she may have stayed too long in the relationship as she wrote the person 'a book' and left it without taking care of it.
And the last part seem to say that she met someone else, but does not want to tell the person, because it may be hurting him/her.
"When you wake you'll know I'm gone Where I'm going there's no one So don't follow me"
If there is no one, why can't the other person follow her? It is kind of sad and I actually cried when I saw the video of the first four songs of the album for the first time. But this song does make a good ending to the first three songs, which explains pretty much why the two weren't fit to stay together.