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.
Hide your face forever
dream and search forever
Have you ever been for sale ?
when your isms get smart
oh so selfish and mindless
with that comment in your eye
Do you think that you are hard ?
really harder than the other
man you're acting cold
if you are not in charge
Don't split your mentality
without thinking twice
your voice has got no reason
now is the time to face your lies
Open your eyes, open your mind
proud like a god don't pretend to be blind
trapped in yourself, break out instead
beat the machine that works in your head
Will you offer me some tricks
if I ever need them
would you go into that room
if I call 'em
Do you think that you are better
really better than the rest
realize there's a problem
I know that you can give your best
Have you ever had a dream?
or is life just a trip?
a trip without chances
a chance to grow up quick
Open your eyes, open your mind ...
Hide your face forever
dream and search forever
night and night you feel nothing
there's no way outside of my land
Open your eyes, open your mind ...
dream and search forever
Have you ever been for sale ?
when your isms get smart
oh so selfish and mindless
with that comment in your eye
Do you think that you are hard ?
really harder than the other
man you're acting cold
if you are not in charge
Don't split your mentality
without thinking twice
your voice has got no reason
now is the time to face your lies
Open your eyes, open your mind
proud like a god don't pretend to be blind
trapped in yourself, break out instead
beat the machine that works in your head
Will you offer me some tricks
if I ever need them
would you go into that room
if I call 'em
Do you think that you are better
really better than the rest
realize there's a problem
I know that you can give your best
Have you ever had a dream?
or is life just a trip?
a trip without chances
a chance to grow up quick
Open your eyes, open your mind ...
Hide your face forever
dream and search forever
night and night you feel nothing
there's no way outside of my land
Open your eyes, open your mind ...
Lyrics submitted by drhx
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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.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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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:
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"Open Your Eyes" for me is directed towards those who have achieved enough education to use this education in a profession. The song present two choices that person can make: they can "hide their face forever", or they can "dream and search forever." Many people hide their face by allowing their dreams to be replaced by the goals of rising up the pecking order and of monetary gain once they join the workforce. With this replacement, they don't only sell their skills, they literally sell themselves as what are we if not our dreams and passions. They use their education in "selfish" and "mindless" ways as they use it only in accord with what will gain them those superficial selfish goals of power and money. They became these dreams. They selfishly think they are better than all the rest and act coldly to others who are in charge because they themselves want to be in charge. Some may pretend to hold onto their old dreams, maybe while they are in their own homes, but this "split" "mentality" does not follow any "reason." One can not say one has those old dreams if one does not act towards accomplishing them when one is in a position to. The chorus of the song has the main message. It tells people to open themselves up to their limited way of seeing the world, and to recover those old dreams. In order to accomplish these dream one must not be "proud like a god" and pretend to be blind to the changes that have occurred in them. Life is not just "a chance to grow up quick" where one must adopt the morals of corporate gain, a trip in which one has no control, a trip in which one never takes the chance to stand up for oneself.
I agree completely.
I think this song is just about breaking out. Becoming your own person. Don't follow the crowd. This song gets me pumped up.
I think this song is just about breaking out. To not be just one of the average joe's
Great song! I also first heard this song when i watched a video of martial artists/performers. The song is pretty pumped and matched well with the clip. After listening to it a few times and reading the lyrics, i think the song is trying to get people who already know that they should break out to do so instead of pretending to follow, and keep their true thoughts and feelings covered up; stop 'pretending to be blind' even though you're not. The point is to not keep your thoughts and true intentions to yourself, but to go and express them.
btw...kudos to ppl who post msgs such as "i love this song" or "awesome" on a site called songMEANINGS.net...without contributing anything else...keep up the good job
It's about challanging our preconceived paradigms, all our "isms."
Can this shiela growl or what. Fuck yeah.
Open your eyes!!! La-la la la la
this is one of there best songs. they ever have been.. i hope that the come to the netherlands. i want to see them live
wow, theres news to me, i didnt know that a girl sang the vocals! interesting, hmmm well this is an awsome song, i dont really care what it means, its great!
i thought it was a guy who sang, imagine my surprise. love the wah riff and it is just an overall solid song