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.
Just an old man all on his own
Nobody wants him hangin' around
But he used to be famous, a star of the show
He stood in the spotlight and took the encore
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the light
He stood there and cried, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the light
He stood there and cried
People would watch him walk the highwire
In the eyes of the children, he was a star
Born in the circus to a carnival clown
He stood in the wonder at the roar of the crowd
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the lights
He stood there and cried, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sometimes I see him when my mind starts to dream
A star of the circus making me scream
He stands on the highwire, his name up in lights
When they closed down the circus they ended his life
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the lights
He stood there and cried, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died
When they turn out the lights
He just stood there and cried
When they turn out the lights
A part of him died, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When they turn out the lights
He stood there and cried, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by Kingofstilport
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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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