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.
Introducing Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
I've seen Jesus play with flames
In a lake of fire that I was standing in
Met the devil in Seattle
And spent nine months inside the lions den
Met Buddha yet another time
And he showed me a glowing light within
But I swear that God is there
Every time I glare into the eyes of my best friend
Says my son, "It's all been done
And someday you're gonna wake up old and gray
So go and try to have some fun
Showing warmth to everyone
You meet and greet and cheat along the way"
There's a gateway in our minds
That leads somewhere out there, far beyond this plane
Where reptile aliens made of light
Cut you open and pull out all your pain
Tell me how you make illegal
Something that we all make in our brain
Some say you might go crazy
But then again, it might make you go sane
Every time I take a look
Inside that old and fabled book
I'm blinded and reminded of
The pain caused by some old man in the sky
Marijuana, LSD
Psilocybin, and DMT
They all changed the way I see
But love's the only thing that ever saved my life
So don't waste your mind on nursery rhymes
Or fairy tales of blood and wine
It's turtles all the way down the line
So to each their own 'til we go home
To other realms our souls must roam
To and through the myth that we all call space and time
I've seen Jesus play with flames
In a lake of fire that I was standing in
Met the devil in Seattle
And spent nine months inside the lions den
Met Buddha yet another time
And he showed me a glowing light within
But I swear that God is there
Every time I glare into the eyes of my best friend
Says my son, "It's all been done
And someday you're gonna wake up old and gray
So go and try to have some fun
Showing warmth to everyone
You meet and greet and cheat along the way"
There's a gateway in our minds
That leads somewhere out there, far beyond this plane
Where reptile aliens made of light
Cut you open and pull out all your pain
Tell me how you make illegal
Something that we all make in our brain
Some say you might go crazy
But then again, it might make you go sane
Every time I take a look
Inside that old and fabled book
I'm blinded and reminded of
The pain caused by some old man in the sky
Marijuana, LSD
Psilocybin, and DMT
They all changed the way I see
But love's the only thing that ever saved my life
So don't waste your mind on nursery rhymes
Or fairy tales of blood and wine
It's turtles all the way down the line
So to each their own 'til we go home
To other realms our souls must roam
To and through the myth that we all call space and time
Lyrics submitted by smallwonderrobot
Turtles All the Way Down Lyrics as written by John Sturgill Simpson
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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So brilliant!
"...they all changed the way I see, But love's the only thing that saved my life."
Amen! Can definitely relate to this terrific song writer.
A quote from Sturgill himself: "...I would urge anyone that gets hung up on the song being about drugs to give another listen ... to me "Turtles" is about giving your heart to love and treating everyone with compassion and respect no matter what you do or don't believe. The cosmic turtle is from a much quoted story found in publications throughout modern physics and philosophy, even ancient theology, that now essentially serves as a comedic picture or expression of a much grander idea." Taken from an interview he did with NPR (npr.org/sections/therecord/2014/04/17/304075384/god-drugs-and-lizard-aliens-yep-its-country-music)
The word "Turtle" refers to the "World Turtle" seen in various mythologies found in China, India, and indigenous North American cultures. The World Turtle is thought to carry the world on its back. The phrase "Turtles All the Way Down" is a sort of challenge or slight to the idea that this could be possible. It's basically saying, "if the world is on the back of a giant turtle, then that turtle must on the back of another giant turtle", and so forth, infinitely. It directly challenges the idea of an "unmoved mover": "If God created existence, then who created God?"
Sturgill's 'meetings' with Jesus, the devil, and reptile aliens could largely be chalked up to drug use, as I'm sure he would admit. He sees "God" in the eyes of his best friend. His best friend is very likely referring to his wife. Seeing "God" in her eyes is him seeing love, or his reason for existence. One could easily interpret that Sturgill sees God to be love, and beyond that, no one really has a clue why we're all here. He also mentions his distaste with the illegality of certain drugs, specifically DMT, which is produced naturally in the brain, specifically when you sleep.
Here Sturgill's "fabled book" is the bible, and the "old man in the sky" is God. Although he is likely referring to the Christian God here, the overarching message of the song leads us to believe that his criticism is not of any specific religion. The "pain" being caused could be referring to the punishments of God in Leviticus, other pieces of the text he found 'harsh', or just the existence of modern day "evil" that God "allows" to exist. He also does not seem to regret his drug use, instead he mentions that they gave him a different perspective on things; but ultimately love is what 'saved' him.
Sturgill has also mentioned that he is not an atheist and even has Jesus' name tattooed on his body; however, the lyrics of this song show that he strays from the traditional christian belief system, especially regarding evangelism. This lyric directly contradicts the idea that Sturgill holds any sort of traditional Christian belief:
The song is trying to tell you that Love comes first.
“Turtles All the Way Down” By Jason Barnes...
This song is about the one and only thing that will save You from Yourself once “self” gets caught inside the “Lions Den...”
Should you ever have the pleasure of finding yourself inside that Den... and on that journey... Then believe you/me... there is but ONE way out.
“The Only Thing that will ever save your Life... “ is LOVE.
“Marijuana, LSD,Psilocybin & DMT... “ open doors in the minds (3rd) Eye. The “Spirit” becomes Ti-Died after these experiences... They “change the way you see...” And allow you to become “open to the possibility” of a Higher Power-or the idea that there may be something else out there... something greater than “self” -
If you’re willing to “Just Let Go” or “woke up today and decided to Kill your Ego” then love is on the other side... Ready, willing and able to Save your Life.
“It’s so hard looking through... all the lies made of wool... but if you close your eyes it becomes so easy to see...”
And that’s when the Miracle Happens...
You’ll know it when LOVE starts flooding every pore and every cell of your being. The more you lean into it... and away from “Self” the bigger the Buzz.... and the more u know it to be Your “Truth.” It IS Something Greater. It’s just.... “WHEW.”
And when it’s coming on... there is No Denying that It’s here to save your life. “Man it feels so good... “just can’t help but cryin” all you have to Let Go... so a soul... May Fall!”
It’s not some old hang in the Sky my friends... it’s inside you...you are part of everything... and it’s Turtles all the way down the line...”
Finding something greater than self brings on a newfound freedom to someone locked inside the “Den”
What goes up must come down and vice vs. Sometimes there’s so much love coming through that you don’t think you can take it.
Then “Self-Pity and interest in Selfish things begin to slip away. You will gain interest in your fellows and you will know the word ”Peace”
it’s in that moment that you’ll “Swear that God is there... in the Eyes of your Best Friend...”
The Lions Den looses its Power on “Self” Once “Self” is no longer at the Center.
It’s Self-LESS silly!
The moment you completely give yourself to this concept... “Reptiles Aliens made of Light will cut you open, pull out all your Pain”
And When the Student is Ready ... Buddi will Appear .... Ready, willing and able to “show you a glowing light within” -
Call it GOD, Call it The LORD, Call it BUDDI, or Call it LOVE....
JUST CALL IT!
There is NO more rewarding journey than this one... and those of us that get to take the ride ... paid for it with our lives....
Though it may entertain the atheidiotic mind, haha, jkn, ........ ljfwy......
This is what happens when you give a hillbilly LSD.
@franklintitan /Sigh... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down
@franklintitan. Obviously you arent thinking about the song. I love the song and in this modern age of everyone conforming it makes total sense.