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.
Well, fill my lungs full of smoke
Fill my belly full of beer
Fill my nights with bad jokes told by folks full of fear
Fill my eyes with a stinging
Fill my time with wishing she was here
Well, fill my wide with the narrow
Fill my safe full of danger
Fill my bed full of shadows
Fill my dreams full of strangers
Fill my ears with a ringing
Fill my heart with a fear of fear
Well, fill my cup half empty cause it's never been half full
Fill me up, paint me over, like a damp patch on the wall
Leave me lying on my stomach on your neighbour's bathroom floor
I'm only here 'til tomorrow anyway
I'm burning up, like a fever that rages in the night
Spark me up, I'm a firework I'll burst into light
For it's better to burn out than to fade out of sight
That's what someone told me anyway
So fill my lungs full of smoke
Fill my belly full of beer
Fill my nose full of cocaine
Fill my eyes full of tears
Fill my short with a longing
Fill my time with wishing I wasn't here
Oh, fill my past with regret
Wrap my present in brown paper
Fill my future with promises, the promised come later
Fill my heart with a stinging
Fill my heart with a fear of fear
Fill my belly full of beer
Fill my nights with bad jokes told by folks full of fear
Fill my eyes with a stinging
Fill my time with wishing she was here
Well, fill my wide with the narrow
Fill my safe full of danger
Fill my bed full of shadows
Fill my dreams full of strangers
Fill my ears with a ringing
Fill my heart with a fear of fear
Well, fill my cup half empty cause it's never been half full
Fill me up, paint me over, like a damp patch on the wall
Leave me lying on my stomach on your neighbour's bathroom floor
I'm only here 'til tomorrow anyway
I'm burning up, like a fever that rages in the night
Spark me up, I'm a firework I'll burst into light
For it's better to burn out than to fade out of sight
That's what someone told me anyway
So fill my lungs full of smoke
Fill my belly full of beer
Fill my nose full of cocaine
Fill my eyes full of tears
Fill my short with a longing
Fill my time with wishing I wasn't here
Oh, fill my past with regret
Wrap my present in brown paper
Fill my future with promises, the promised come later
Fill my heart with a stinging
Fill my heart with a fear of fear
Lyrics submitted by BusbyBerkeleyDreams
Fear of Fear Lyrics as written by Michael David Rosenberg
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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,
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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/
Powerful song Think he's in a place where he doesn't want to be. He wants to be with her. Wide full of narrow (narrow minded) the people and the level of intelligence he's surrounded with. The general atmosphere - he doesn't fit in - and he feels the fear from all the people. He shines/burns which he was told by "someone" anyway that it's better to go like that. Smoke/beer/coke - it's not where he wants to be. He would rather fill his life surrounded by positive - and he feels invisible. So basically he's confronting his fears. He's scared of this feeling.
Small note in his sing (I hate) he says a similar thing people in nightclubs snorting coke and telling me where I'm going wrong. "I hate the X factor murdering his beautiful simple music.
Basically anti establishment.
I'd like to hear any thoughts on this please x