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.
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the shade we should be cast in
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the lie
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power
It's not the war but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of foul men is mere assignment
And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry power
Power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
If you love bein' free
Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)
'Cause power is my love and my righteous to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Woman cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Millie cried power
Kenny cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the shade we should be cast in
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the lie
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power
It's not the war but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of foul men is mere assignment
And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry power
Power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
If you love bein' free
Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)
'Cause power is my love and my righteous to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Woman cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Millie cried power
Kenny cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher, edited by rabbitheartedkid, kimberly7e
Nina Cried Power Lyrics as written by Andrew Hozier-byrne
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Power to the people - that's the meaning I read.
All of the names checked either sang political songs, or at least sang songs of great passion and power.
One possible correction: Seeger, not Seager.
No attempts at identifying all the names yet? I'd like to try for most of them:
Nina Simone Billie Holliday Mavis Staples (Three great female African American singers)
Curtis Mayfield Patti Smith ("People Have the Power") Nina Simone
Nina Simone John Lennon James Brown
James Brown Pete Seeger Woman
James (Brown, again?) Millie Kenny Billie Holliday Bob Dylan Woody Guthrie Nina Simone
I don't know that all of the other names above are correct, but if they are, perhaps somebody could help with "Millie" and "Kenny"?
@prairie11 Nina Simone<br /> Billie Holliday<br /> Mavis Staples<br /> Curtis Mayfield<br /> Patti LaBelle<br /> John Lennon<br /> James Brown<br /> B.B. King<br /> Joni Mitchell<br /> Pete Seeger<br /> Marvin Gaye<br /> Millie Jackson<br /> Bob Dylan<br /> Woody Guthrie
@prairie11 Nina Simone<br /> Billie Holliday<br /> Mavis Staples<br /> Curtis Mayfield<br /> Patti LaBelle<br /> John Lennon<br /> James Brown<br /> B.B. King<br /> Joni Mitchell<br /> Pete Seeger<br /> Marvin Gaye<br /> Millie Jackson<br /> Bob Dylan<br /> Woody Guthrie
@prairie11 So this is what I hear when I listen:<br /> <br /> It's not the wakin', it's the risin'<br /> It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'<br /> It's not forgoin' of the lie<br /> It's not the openin' of eyes<br /> It's not the wakin', it's the risin'<br /> <br /> It's not the shade we should be past it<br /> It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it<br /> It's the heat that drives the light<br /> It's the fire it ignites<br /> It's not the wakin', it's the risin'<br /> <br /> It's not the song, it is the singin'<br /> It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'<br /> It is the bringin' of the line<br /> It is the bearin' of the rhyme<br /> It's not the wakin', it's the risin'<br /> <br /> And I could cry power (power)<br /> Power (power)<br /> Power, Lord<br /> Nina cried power<br /> Billie cried power<br /> Mavis cried power<br /> <br /> And I could cry power (power)<br /> Power (power)<br /> Power, Lord<br /> Curtis cried power<br /> Patti cried power<br /> Nina cried power<br /> <br /> It's not the wall but what's behind it<br /> Lord, the fear of fellow man is mere assignment<br /> And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide<br /> It's not the wakin', it's the risin'<br /> <br /> And I could cry power (power)<br /> Power (power)<br /> Power, Lord<br /> Nina cried power<br /> Lennon cried power<br /> James Brown cried power<br /> <br /> And I could cry power<br /> Power (power)<br /> Power (power)<br /> Power, Lord<br /> Billie cried power<br /> Joni cried power<br /> Nina cried power<br /> <br /> And I could cry power<br /> Power has been cried by those stronger than me<br /> Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains<br /> If you love bein' free<br /> <br /> Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)<br /> 'Cause power is my love when my love reaches to me<br /> James Brown cried power<br /> Seeger cried power<br /> Marvin cried power<br /> Yeah ah, power<br /> James cried power<br /> Leonard cried power<br /> Patti cried power<br /> Billie, power<br /> Dylan, power<br /> Woody, power<br /> Nina cried power<br /> <br /> So Woman should be Marvin (Gaye)<br /> Millie should be Leonard (Cohen)<br /> Kenny should be Patti<br /> I believe the single James could be James Taylor