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.
Meanwhile back in the year one
When you belonged to no one
You didn't stand a chance, son
If your pants were undone
'Cause you were bred, for humanity
And sold to society
One day you'll wake up, in the present day
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
So as you push off from the shore
Won't you turn your head once more
And make your peace with everyone
For those who choose to stay
Will live just one more day
To do the things they should've done
And as you cross the wilderness
Spinning in your emptiness
If you have to, pray
Looking for a sign, that the universal minds
Has written you into the passion play
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
And as you cross the circle line
Well, the ice wall creaks behind
You're a rabbit on the run
And the silver splinters fly
In the corner of your eye
Shining in the setting sun
Well, do you ever get the feeling
That the story's too damn real
And in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage
And it seems like you're the only
Person sitting in the audience?
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
Skating away, skating away, skating away
When you belonged to no one
You didn't stand a chance, son
If your pants were undone
'Cause you were bred, for humanity
And sold to society
One day you'll wake up, in the present day
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
So as you push off from the shore
Won't you turn your head once more
And make your peace with everyone
For those who choose to stay
Will live just one more day
To do the things they should've done
And as you cross the wilderness
Spinning in your emptiness
If you have to, pray
Looking for a sign, that the universal minds
Has written you into the passion play
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
And as you cross the circle line
Well, the ice wall creaks behind
You're a rabbit on the run
And the silver splinters fly
In the corner of your eye
Shining in the setting sun
Well, do you ever get the feeling
That the story's too damn real
And in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage
And it seems like you're the only
Person sitting in the audience?
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
Skating away, skating away, skating away
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I think it's about making a new start... throwing everything aside, and starting over. The line that always hits me is "looking for a sign that the universal mind has written you into the passion play". To me, that refers to somebody who is (so to speak) on the sideline, watching other people taking risks, living their dreams, going outside themselves; and finally realizing that you have to jump into life with both feet. And the person then "skates away" on the "thin ice", which is a metaphor for moving off into emotionally dangerous and uncharted territory.
It's similar in that to CSNY's "Wasted on the Way", when they sing "did you envy all the dancers who had all the nerve".
The Universal Mind is of course just an alternate expression for... what? Fate, God, destiny, etc. So this line, I think, means that the person is waiting for life to reach out and grab him, rather than taking the plunge. And finally realizing that it ain't gonna happen.