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.
Three white butterflies to know you're near
I know they think that it took somebody else
To make me beautiful, beautiful
As they intended me to be
But they're wrong
I know they think that it took thousands of people
To put me together again like an experiment
Some big man behind the scenes
So I am Frankenstein, black dreams into my song
But they're wrong
God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies
Or an owl to know know you're listening, sitting while I'm drinking
Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father
While he's deep-sea fishing for sharks in the Pacific
'Cause I'm good on spirit, warm-bodied
A fallible deity wrapped up in white
I'm folk, I'm jazz, I'm blue, I'm green
Regrettably you're so a white woman
But I have good intentions if even I'm one of the last ones
If you don't believe me, my poetry and my melodies
Feel it in your bones
I have good intentions even if I'm one of the last ones
Ah, yeah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah
Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father
While he's deep-sea fishing for all the things he's wishing
God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies
Or a map to know you're fishing, impart on me your wisdom
It took somebody else to make me beautiful
Wonderful
As they intended me to be
But they're wrong
Three white butterflies to know you're near
I know they think that it took somebody else
To make me beautiful, beautiful
As they intended me to be
But they're wrong
I know they think that it took thousands of people
To put me together again like an experiment
Some big man behind the scenes
So I am Frankenstein, black dreams into my song
But they're wrong
God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies
Or an owl to know know you're listening, sitting while I'm drinking
Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father
While he's deep-sea fishing for sharks in the Pacific
'Cause I'm good on spirit, warm-bodied
A fallible deity wrapped up in white
I'm folk, I'm jazz, I'm blue, I'm green
Regrettably you're so a white woman
But I have good intentions if even I'm one of the last ones
If you don't believe me, my poetry and my melodies
Feel it in your bones
I have good intentions even if I'm one of the last ones
Ah, yeah, ah, yeah, ah, yeah
Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father
While he's deep-sea fishing for all the things he's wishing
God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies
Or a map to know you're fishing, impart on me your wisdom
It took somebody else to make me beautiful
Wonderful
As they intended me to be
But they're wrong
Three white butterflies to know you're near
Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He's Deep‐Sea Fishing song meanings
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