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.
Like the brutal morning sun
It dawns on me, what have I done?
Saying sorry ain't as good as saying why
But it buys me a little more time
Lost in the moment for the second time
Each fuck up that I make, it makes you cry
I'm as pathetic, as the reason why
In desperation, all that you can do is ask me why
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Don't always think before I do
'Cause I'm a man, woman
That's the only answer I've got for you (uh)
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Not often proud of what I choose
I'm a human, woman
A greater force I answer to
Once again, as it takes a hold
I am aware I'm not in control
You see, I have a conscience and it's never fooled
But it's prone to be overruled
You wanna know why I always think I'm right? (Ooh, why?)
You never accept defeat and let it slide (why? Why?)
I have no voice if I don't speak my mind (why?)
My weakness is the source of all my pride
I'll tell you why
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Don't always think before I do
'Cause I'm a man, woman
That's the only answer I've got for you (uh)
'Cause I'm a man, woman
I'll never be as strong as you
I'm a human, human
A greater force I answer to (uh)
It dawns on me, what have I done?
Saying sorry ain't as good as saying why
But it buys me a little more time
Lost in the moment for the second time
Each fuck up that I make, it makes you cry
I'm as pathetic, as the reason why
In desperation, all that you can do is ask me why
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Don't always think before I do
'Cause I'm a man, woman
That's the only answer I've got for you (uh)
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Not often proud of what I choose
I'm a human, woman
A greater force I answer to
Once again, as it takes a hold
I am aware I'm not in control
You see, I have a conscience and it's never fooled
But it's prone to be overruled
You wanna know why I always think I'm right? (Ooh, why?)
You never accept defeat and let it slide (why? Why?)
I have no voice if I don't speak my mind (why?)
My weakness is the source of all my pride
I'll tell you why
'Cause I'm a man, woman
Don't always think before I do
'Cause I'm a man, woman
That's the only answer I've got for you (uh)
'Cause I'm a man, woman
I'll never be as strong as you
I'm a human, human
A greater force I answer to (uh)
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This song spoke to me, and I'm not here to say this is THE interpretation, but rather, this is what it made me think of as I listened to it.
This song brings to mind a lot of the more powerful, perhaps 'primal' urges I experience like Anger, Ego, and Sexuality etc. These are strong urges, and (social constructivists might argue) I feel these because I AM A MAN. And often these urges that I feel, are simply to strong to stand up to. The rational side of me is beaten down to a pulp, and the more primal, animalistic side of me comes out. Often to later regret.
"It dawns on me, what have I done?"
But this is not only a weakness, these urges also represent a great source of strength for the more masculine. We want to conquer, sometimes to our own peril.
"My weakness is the source of all my pride"
It doesn't matter that we might be outnumbered on the battlefield, we will fight to the death (often stupidly so), but the flipside of this is that this gives us a great courage which we would otherwise be unable to muster. Even if in the moment we got swept up and rationality got brushed to the wayside, and in our more rational contemplative moments we are unable to empathize with the animalistic presence occupying our body not so long ago... Who was this idiot? What were they thinking? Where was the sense?
"You see, I have a conscience and it's never fooled But it's prone to be overruled"
I feel it ends up speaking to a male impulsiveness, where a man realizes he's made a mistake. He was overcome in the moment, and now he attempts to make an apology, even though he know he will never be able to fully rectify the wrong he did, he will never be able to provide a guarantee that he won't repeat his mistake. He simply asks the offended for empathy, to realize that sometimes there's a primal part of him, and that part will always be there, even if he doesn't fully understand it.
"Saying sorry ain't as good as saying why But it buys me a little more time"