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.
Long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you
Long time coming
It seemed to get me by
Long time coming
It seemed to satisfy
You longed to taste the shame
That everybody tries
Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of more than I can take
If it sits upon your tongue or naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of more than I can try
Throw yourself away
Throw yourself away
Long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you
Yeah
Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of More than I can take
If it sits upon your tongueOr naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of More than I can try
(Throw yourself away)
Long time coming, long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you
Long time coming
It seemed to get me by
Long time coming
It seemed to satisfy
You longed to taste the shame
That everybody tries
Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of more than I can take
If it sits upon your tongue or naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of more than I can try
Throw yourself away
Throw yourself away
Long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you
Yeah
Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of More than I can take
If it sits upon your tongueOr naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of More than I can try
(Throw yourself away)
Long time coming, long time coming
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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Hayalperest
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i think theres some drug elements in it but i agree with the parent/child interpretation, on account of the title... i always thought of the "shame shame throw yourself away" line as something a parent or teacher would say to a kid. and for some reason this song really, really reminds me of the show malcolm in the middle, if thats relevant to anyone.
I think there are several potential meanings to this song which is one of the reasons it's so sick. There might even be an explicit reference to ancient history though. In 53 BC, Crassus (then more powerful than Julius Caesar) led a hopeless campaign into Syria against the Parthians. Not content with being the richest man and largest slaveowner in the Roman Republic, Crassus needed military success to satisfy his ego. The battle was a disaster for him: his son was killed as was most of his army and in anguish he rode into his enemy's camp. According to legend, because Crassus was notorious the world over for his greed, his Parthian captors poured molten gold into his mouth. That night at the Parthian king's son's wedding feast, the Bacchae was performed, which is about a king who refuses to worship the greek god of wine and is thus punished for it. One of the actors in the play paraded around the severed head of Crassus while reciting a line from the play which translates to: "We bring from the mountain/A tendril fresh to the palace/A wonderful prey." According to Roman custom, death, however humiliating, is still preferable to continuing to live under such shame.